[Woodcarver] Scam purchases on eBay...

[Ivan Whillock]

I also received a cashier's check of over $24,000 supposedly for a commission.  I was suspicious because the "customer" wanted me to act ASAP, and had not waited for a contract which I always send.  The customer asked me to email the contract to him, but I insisted on using regular mail because that would give me a specific address rather than an anonymous email identity. 

To make a long story short, upon receiving the suspicious check I contacted the postal authorities and they told of other schemes where the perpetrator tries to get the mark to cash a bogus check and then refund real money back in one pretense or another.   One scheme has the mark refunding $20,000 and keeping the other four thousand for his "trouble."

Some pretty sophisticated people have been hooked, the postal folks told me, including a lawyer in the northern part of the state.

Anybody want to buy a cashier's check for $24,785?

Ivan Whillock

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bill Judt 
  To: Woodcarver Mailing List WML 
  Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 9:13 AM
  Subject: [Woodcarver] Scam purchases on eBay...


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  Gentle Subscribers:

  Chris Howard had a "close call" on eBay recently, in which he was ALMOST scammed by a fraud artist in England.
  Please be aware that if you are approached by someone claiming to purchase a carving you have listed on a website, you must be diligent in establishing the credibility of your customer. You must also be meticulous in transacting the payment, doing what is necessary to protect yourself from fraud.

  People will attempt to SEND you money to make a payment on their behalf. They can make their own payments, thank you very much!!!!

  Please read Chris's account, which I have edited for clarity.

  Bill
  List Owner

  My books are for sale at: http://wwwoodcarver.com/Books/Books.html
  W.F. Judt,
  46 Harvard Cres,
  Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
  S7H3R1
  PH: 306-373-6649
  Email: bjudt at sasktel.net
  Website: http://www.wwwoodcarver.com

  Bill

  Chris Howard in Tn here. 

  Just wanted to advise you of a SCAM that is being ran on artists and many others. I was selling a carving I listed on e-bay, and this is what happened.

  I have been in contact with a person in England for the past 6 weeks that want to buy a carving. She gave me a story about having several things shipped at once and wanted me to pay her shipping agent with extra money she was sending. 

  I am a trusting soul to a certian degree. I recieved a Cashiers Check, but with all her contacts, something just didnt seem right. I took the check to the bank and had them run a check on it before it went into my account and it was discovered that the cashiers check was a fraud.

  The scam works like this:
  A bank has to release funds in 3 days, but the return on the check (which would indicate it was worthless) would be 5 days.

  The fraud artist attempts to convince you to send money to a bogus shipper along with the product, but you would be liable for the money lost. 

  I contacted the FBI and they are doing an investigation. I was lucky I havent lost anything but it could really hurt someone. There are many sites that explain how this works on the web.

  Thought you might want to be aware of this.

  Take Care and I hope to get to meet you some day.

  Chris Howard
  145 Poplar Ln
  Gatlinburg Tn 37738
  gatlinburgartist.com





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