I put something on Stenosearch.  Quick rundown:

Matt: What's your final price?

x

Matt: I will send you a certified check.

Mary:  Deposit it directly at my bank.

Matt: You deposit it directly.

-----

Matt: (Last email) I have spoken to my client ---.  I will send a certified check.  Let me know when you get it and I will tell you what to do next.  I will have someone pick it up at your house.  The check will be enough for your equipment.  Please give the difference to the person who picks up the equipment.

 

This morning I sent him an email telling him I decline.  This is off Stenosearch.  What was probably going to happen was I would get a certified check, deposit it, give the girl the money, and three weeks later find out the check was fake.

Also, his emails were very professional, no reason to think he wasn't on the legit - right up to the time of the check is more than you requested, give the rest to who picks up the equipment.

Views: 306

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Good catch, Mary Jo.

A couple months ago, someone on Facebook was complaining about her attempt to buy a Diamante from some scammer on StenoSearch.

There was  similar juggling act with the check, but she went ahead with the transaction ... then she smelled a rat.

She got her bank involved early on, and they began following the money (and no, the writer never arrived).

Apparently, the check was to be deposited into someone else's account, to which he had access ... then when it cleared, he was going to send the writer.

Money came through, and there never was any writer; the money was transferred to another account ... and that's how the cops caught him.

--gdw

Makes ebay look good.  A little pricy, but ebay and paypal work.  As for a certified check, yeah, they are made to look real.  They even have the disclaimer and telephone number on them.  All as fake as a counterfeit bill.

Any time you get a certified check, call the bank it is written on.  Get the phone number from the Internet (not from the number shown on the check).  Have the bank verify that the check is real.

I got this email back in May of this year when I was trying to sell my edit key.

It seemed false to me so I told him it was already sold.

"Hello Seller,
            In reference to your online placed ad, please could you tell me whether the advert is still for sale? Also tell me whether its condition remains as described in your ad? Please include the current price too. Write soon.
 
Thanks,
Paul"

In reference to your online placed ad, please could you tell me whether the advert is still for sale? Also tell me whether its condition remains as described in your ad? Please include the current price too. Write soon

I can tell you what part seemed false. All of it. People is a certain profession speak in a certain manner.   There isn't one thing here referencing being a court reporter, software, the need for the item.  Advert?  Americans don't use that word.

So the guy got the English correct.  That's all the more reason to be cautious.  My guy seemed very professional.  Most scammers have honed their skills.  The tipoff is the lack of genuineness for the professional or item they are interested in.

 Most people, with the exception of English teachers/professors, don't have the expertise in spelling, grammar, punctuation that we possess.  

 

If this is true, then our country is illiterate.  Granted I tend to be a nut on English/Language Arts (which I am now a certified Florida teacher), grammar and writing skills are the foundation for literacy (period).

The moral of this whole post is, things have changed.  If we are putting ourselves out there, we need to be cautious, or paranoid, because being paranoid is a good thing. 

If you sell something, put in your ad, paypal only.  As Janeice did, if it doesn't feel right, say it's sold.

Randall, thank you for your posts, whether they come across as good or bad, or wanted or unwanted, or etc, you made a contribution that could enlighten someone.  And that counts.

Hi, Randall,

I think what gave me a funny feeling is I was selling an edit key for CC and this person was asking if my "software" was in good shape.  I thought someone who is familiar with court reporting software would understand what I was selling.  

I agree with you for the most part his post looks pretty benign, but it gave me a funny feeling, instinct, I guess.  I have learned from past experience when I get that feeling to pay attention.  I ended up selling it to a very nice reporter in Kentucky.  Her check cleared.  All is good.

RSS

© 2024   Created by Kelli Combs (admin).   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service