Summary: someone sends you more than what your item costs and asks for the difference sent to them or to a friend.
internet order overpaying scam -pdf file
So the people at the internet fraud complaint center do not know how to market their site all that well, and I had to struggle to find this for a friend.
INTELLIGENCE NOTE
11/04/2003
Prepared by the Internet Fraud Complaint Center
The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC), a cooperative effort of the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, is alerting citizens to scams involving the use of counterfeit cashier’s checks.
The scheme targets individuals that use Internet classified ads to sell merchandise. Typically, an interested party located outside the United States contacts a seller. The seller is told that the buyer has an associate in the United States that owes him money. As such, he will have the associate send the seller a cashier’s check for the amount owed to the buyer. This amount will be thousands of dollars more than the price of the merchandise, and the seller is told the excess amount will be used to pay the shipping costs associated with getting the merchandise to his location. The seller is instructed to deposit the check, and as soon as it clears, to wire (Western Union) the excess funds back to the buyer, or to another associate identified as a shipping agent. In most instances, the money is sent to locations in West Africa (Nigeria). Because a cashier’s check is used, a bank will typically release the funds immediately, or after a one or two day hold. Falsely believing the check has cleared, the seller wires the money as
instructed. In some cases, the buyer is able to convince the seller that some circumstance has arisen that necessitates the cancellation of the sale, and is successful in conning the victim into sending the remainder of the money. Shortly thereafter, their bank notifies the victim that the check was fraudulent, and the bank is holding the victim responsible for the full amount of the check.
The IFCC is cautioning citizens to be wary of any purchasers proposing to conduct transactions in this manner, and to take the steps necessary to ensure that a check has fully cleared before doing anything with those funds. Anyone who thinks they might have fallen victim to this or any other type of Internet scam can notify the IFCC through its web site at www.ifccfbi.gov.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This is not a new scam but they also try it in the uk. As a hobby seller I NEVER take Western Union payments or dispatch goods before goods have cleared. In some respects our ancient banking system does us a favour it takes 4 days for a cheque to clear(working days that is). which means it can take well over a week.
These people should feel shame that even think of such scams.
Best wishes
Alision(UK Derby)
Yep, This kind of scam is well known in the UK, thats why most sellers on UK internet sites eg eBay, dont sell to Nigeria or other doubtful countries. Apears that members of Tazbar have just cottoned on to it too. Myself, I never part with anything I sell until the funds have cleared and appear stable.
Me to, like wise with paypal, i always withdraw the funds to my account (BANK) AND THAT IS WHEN I SEND THE ITEM, ONLY ON HIGH VALUE GOODS
Yep, it seems someone has tried that one with me too. Being new to selling online, thought I was onto a great sale, but it just hasnt made sense. Im really grateful for finding this advice