I get an offer,but I think it is trap

[ff89]

I get an offer,he said that he want buy one my domain and asked the price.I told him.Then I get his email as below

--------------------------------------------------------------
HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TODAY ?GUESS FINE .I GOT
YOUR MAIL AND I'M OKAY WITH THE PRICE,SO I WOULD NOT
WASTE TIME IN PURCHASING.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IS THAT I'M TO BE PAID THE AMOUNT
OF $4,300 CASHIERS CHECK BY MY ASSOCIATE IN AN
INVESTMENT COMPANY.

SO WHAT I WILL DO IS THAT ,I WILL INSTRUCT THEM TO
WRITE THE CASHIERS CHECK IN YOUR NAME AND SEND IT TO
YOU SO THAT YOU WILL CASH IT ,REMOVE YOUR $800 AND
THEN YOU WILL SEND THE BALANCE OF $3500 TO MY
PERSONAL ASSISTANT THROUGH MONEYGRAM MONEY TRANSFER.
AND AFTER THE CASHIERS CHECK IS CLEARED FUNDS YOU CAN
THEN TRANSFER THE OWNERSHIP TO ME.
.SO I WILL WANT YOU TO SEND THIS INFORMATION
BELOW SO THAT THECASHIERS CHECK BE WRITTEN IN YOUR NAME AND
THEN SENT TO YOU.

FULL ADDRESS........
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER......
MAILING ADDRESS......

I WILL BE EXPECTING TO READ FROM YOU SOONEST SO THAT
THE CASHIERS CHECK WILL GET TO YOU QUICKLY.
STAY BLESSED AND'VE A NICE DAY.
-------------------------------------------------------

I think it is a trap : :td: ,what do you think? :hehe:

 

[Midano]

Exact copy of the one in THIS THREAD
Don't even bother to respond.

 

[Gene]

Why not accept the cashier's check, then WAIT however long is necessary for it to clear?

 

[FanCube]

Sounds fishy... It is always quite suspect when a high price is accepted right away and the person is sending almost the exact same letter out to other domain owners.

I would only continue such a trade through a an Escrow service.

 

[netzilla]

I had a similiar email when I sold my ATV recently. I believe its an attempt to gather personal data about you. I would not bother responding at the other thread points out.

 

[Gene]

Sounds fishy... It is always quite suspect when a high price is accepted right away and the person is sending almost the exact same letter out to other domain owners.

I would only continue such a trade through a an Escrow service.

Wait a minute here... scam or not, it seems to me you would have the upper hand. HE is paying YOU before you transfer the domain. Where is the risk, if you allow the payment to fully clear? Heck, I'd set up a separate bank account, accept the payment, remove the money in cash, close the account, THEN move the name. There seems to be something missing here.

I had a similiar email when I sold my ATV recently. I believe its an attempt to gather personal data about you. I would not bother responding at the other thread points out.

What personal information? Address and phone number? Half the world knows that already, and the other half has access to it.

 

[fonzie_007]

I would still be careful. I have heard issues about fake cashier's checks and money orders. However, if you want to take the chance and cash the check, you can always wait for it to clear. The most you have to lose is giving up some personal info and having your bank charge you whatever their fee is (if any) for submitting a non-valid check/money order. (my bank charges $16 for cashing a bad check)

 

[Gene]

I still don't see the risk. ff89, if you'll forward the email to me, I'll reply to it and see where it goes. Up to you.

 

[movingconcierge]

I think that's called money laundering...I think the same people who would launder money might also stuff you into a plastic drum and bury you in the desert if you screw with them...just my dark view...

 

[Midano]

Wait a minute here...
Heck, I'd set up a separate bank account, accept the payment, remove the money in cash, close the account, THEN move the name. There seems to be something missing here.

No, YOU wait a minute here...
That's exactly what THEY would do. Set up a separate bank account, cut a check not covered by any funds hoping you would transfer the name before the check would bounce. Meanwhile, you're wasting your time running in circles around your neighborhood bank.

 

[Castlemelody]

Greetings!

How does this differ from scam letters asking you for your bank account info so that he/she can deposit a large sum of money and you get a certain percentage?

The very fact that the person is willing to give you the cashier's check worth that much is already questionnable. At any rate, he can always have the check written in his name, encash it and give you the money for your domain. Right?

Be careful out there!

 

[cache]

think this way, those people are doing this way for some purpose. Their intention does not sound good, however it may be fun to play and see what will happen, just be careful.

I still don't see the risk. ff89, if you'll forward the email to me, I'll reply to it and see where it goes. Up to you.

 

[Gene]

No, YOU wait a minute here...
That's exactly what THEY would do. Set up a separate bank account, cut a check not covered by any funds hoping you would transfer the name before the check would bounce. Meanwhile, you're wasting your time running in circles around your neighborhood bank.

Understood. But they're talking 'cashier's check'. My bank would know immediately if it was valid or not, and I'd have no problem doing this leg-work if it means catching the scammer(s).

 

[Altiux]

It’s a scam, an old one with a new twist. Do not fall for it. The email is all in caps and the grammar is poor. This is a scam that has its roots in Niagara (know for scams - Most US backs will not even let you wire money to them or even from them).
The 'cashier's check' will end up being counterfeit! Your bank will not be able to tell until they get it returned to them that can take 6 weeks by then you have already sent the difference to the scammers.

Check out www.ClarkHoward.com and look up email scams.

 

[Gene]

The 'cashier's check' will end up being counterfeit!

That's exactly why I would love to follow this through. Once a counterfeit cashier's check was issued, these scammers could be nabbed.

Your bank will not be able to tell until they get it returned to them that can take 6 weeks by then you have already sent the difference to the scammers.

If I received any sum of money from an unknown party, I would not send back ANYTHING until there was evidence that the payment was good.

 

[netzilla]

If they trust someone they don't know to send $3,500 to their assistant they must be stupid. Like the saying goes "If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is". Would you use this method if the tables were turned. Heck no I wouldn't what would keep him from running off with the remaining balance??

 

[cache]

there is a similar thread here:

http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/165906-scam-alert.html

 

[Bannen]

this is 1,000% bogus

Ask for his 'assistant's' name and phone number, and then follow up with a call.
Ask for the website, name, and phone # of the 'associate from the investment company' who 'owes' him this money and is sending the cashier's cheque, and follow up by contacting that person... only through that website, if it looks legitimate.
Ask for the name and phone # of the bank the cashier's cheque will be written on - the bank couldn't give you details, but they could answer a few of your questions if you tell them you are trying to find out if there's a scam being perpetrated.
Not that any of the above would solve something for sure, but the more you investigate, the more a 'scam' unravels by what they say... a lot of lies and illigitemate contacts are very difficult and complicated to hold up.
But, only do the above investigation if you still believe a word of his email. I don't. Put the evidence together and answer these questions:
Why doesn't he deposit the cheque himself, and just cash it and pay you? - Like the rest of the world would? Would YOU send a large cashier's cheque to a total stranger thousands of miles away, ask that stranger to cash it, and trust him to send you the balance of over $3000? Even if you get 'Escrow' involved? Or would you just ask your 'associate' to send YOU the cheque?
What is this 'association'? I don't get it. Do they work at the same company? What is that company?
Actually, I have so many dozens of questions I'm not even going to bother with them all. Just consider:

This guy's writing and grammar are awful, nothing like a person who has any true knowledge about what he's talking about. Everything in the note exemplifies the classic template of a scam: Very friendly opening and closing to the letter, over-faking a care about you and your family/health; very poor spelling and grammar; use of general key words that get you thinking about legitimacy, money, power, reliability - like 'associate', 'investment company', 'cashier's cheque'; keeps those words very general and doesn't give specific names, companies, details, anything to validate/back-up what he's saying; and a LOT of unanswered questions that are nebulous and don't make sense as to why he's doing things this way in the first place.
Bannen's guarantees:
1. If you insist upon going the Escrow route so everything is done above-board, he will give you an absolutely 'legitimate' reason as to why he wouldn't be able to at this time.
2. If you decide to follow through without Escrow, the cashier's cheque will be bogus.
3. Somewhere along the way, he will come up with a 'reason' something has to be done a little differently than planned, in order for your 'deal' to go through right away.
4. If you have anything even remotely in-depth to do with this guy, you'll regret it. "It's easier to STAY out, than to GET out".
5. (And most importantly): When things like this look totally un-kosher.... don't fall into the trap of trying to think how to still 'make the deal go through, but not get scammed'.
Just let it go.
Remember: you stay out of messes like this not because you can think out all the angles and try to stay 1 step ahead of the guy...
You stay out of messes like this because of what you CAN'T see... those unknown factors that your imagination and business smarts just couldn't foresee.

I'm all for taking huge leaps, when things look legit. I've taken massive, life-scary ones, into the unknown.
But this guy is a 'known' - he's a total player, and not very good at it.
PM me with anything interesting that happens

 

[cache]

good summary. Couple of my past experiences: when I asked the real full name and phone number, they just disappeared, never replied back.

Ask for his 'assistant's' name and phone number, and then follow up with a call.
Ask for the website, name, and phone # of the 'associate from the investment company' who 'owes' him this money and is sending the cashier's cheque, and follow up by contacting that person... only through that website, if it looks legitimate.
Ask for the name and phone # of the bank the cashier's cheque will be written on - the bank couldn't give you details, but they could answer a few of your questions if you tell them you are trying to find out if there's a scam being perpetrated.
Not that any of the above would solve something for sure, but the more you investigate, the more a 'scam' unravels by what they say... a lot of lies and illigitemate contacts are very difficult and complicated to hold up.
But, only do the above investigation if you still believe a word of his email. I don't. Put the evidence together and answer these questions:
Why doesn't he deposit the cheque himself, and just cash it and pay you? - Like the rest of the world would? Would YOU send a large cashier's cheque to a total stranger thousands of miles away, ask that stranger to cash it, and trust him to send you the balance of over $3000? Even if you get 'Escrow' involved? Or would you just ask your 'associate' to send YOU the cheque?
What is this 'association'? I don't get it. Do they work at the same company? What is that company?
Actually, I have so many dozens of questions I'm not even going to bother with them all. Just consider:

This guy's writing and grammar are awful, nothing like a person who has any true knowledge about what he's talking about. Everything in the note exemplifies the classic template of a scam: Very friendly opening and closing to the letter, over-faking a care about you and your family/health; very poor spelling and grammar; use of general key words that get you thinking about legitimacy, money, power, reliability - like 'associate', 'investment company', 'cashier's cheque'; keeps those words very general and doesn't give specific names, companies, details, anything to validate/back-up what he's saying; and a LOT of unanswered questions that are nebulous and don't make sense as to why he's doing things this way in the first place.
Bannen's guarantees:
1. If you insist upon going the Escrow route so everything is done above-board, he will give you an absolutely 'legitimate' reason as to why he wouldn't be able to at this time.
2. If you decide to follow through without Escrow, the cashier's cheque will be bogus.
3. Somewhere along the way, he will come up with a 'reason' something has to be done a little differently than planned, in order for your 'deal' to go through right away.
4. If you have anything even remotely in-depth to do with this guy, you'll regret it. "It's easier to STAY out, than to GET out".
5. (And most importantly): When things like this look totally un-kosher.... don't fall into the trap of trying to think how to still 'make the deal go through, but not get scammed'.
Just let it go.
Remember: you stay out of messes like this not because you can think out all the angles and try to stay 1 step ahead of the guy...
You stay out of messes like this because of what you CAN'T see... those unknown factors that your imagination and business smarts just couldn't foresee.

I'm all for taking huge leaps, when things look legit. I've taken massive, life-scary ones, into the unknown.
But this guy is a 'known' - he's a total player, and not very good at it.
PM me with anything interesting that happens

 

[Peter]

There was a scam reported in my home town that did this type of thing BUT was for hotels. Tey claimed a function was happening and they would like to book x amount of rooms. They would do the same send a cheque and you send them back the change as a cheque.

Only problem is it wasnt a cheque for their bank account they were sending you so it is in effect stolen money.