Attempted roommate scam

Whisper

Diamond Member
Feb 25, 2000
5,394
2
81
So, apparently my girlfriend has run into a few version of the Nigerian scam. She posted an ad on Craigslist looking for a roommate to take the place of a friend who's moving out, and received a reply from a supposed female from Sweden (hereafter known as "the Swede") looking to come to the area to study.

After a few emails back and forth, the Swede said she would be mailing a check to cover the first month's utilities. The check would be made out for more than was necessary (surprise); however, rather than asking to send the surplus funds directly back to said Swede, she asked that my girlfriend instead use the remainder to pay the movers/moving company. My girlfriend and her current roommate of course said no.

Fast forward to a few days ago, and the Swede has apparently called a few times (using what my girlfriend described as a "voice disguiser, or she just had a really weird voice"), and persisted in sending the check, which I now have in front of me.

The check is from "Charles Schwab&Co,LTD" in San Francisco, was mailed from Ontario, is made out for "Mischellaneous Payment (Pay in U.S.D.)," and is signed "C. Schawb" (all in horrible cursive). I'm now wondering what exactly to do with the check. Give it to the police? Frame it and hang it on the wall as perpetual comic relief? Something else?

Cliffs:
-Girlfriend ran into new version of Nigerian scam while looking for roommate
-Received check for too much money, asked to pay movers/moving company
-Said no
-Received check from "Charles Schwab&Co, LTD," signed by "C. Schawb" himself apparently
-What to do with check, and/or about alerting authorities?
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
I'd give it to the police but it'd probably be too much trouble for what it's worth.
 

Wheezer

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
6,731
1
81
send it back and tell the "Swede" you found a roommate......in situations like this doubt=don't.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: state 08
Meijers cash checks for $5. Go do it there. What do ya got to lose?

Then he's effectively screwing over Meijers since they won't get the money for the check. But in all honestly, what's keeping him from doing so and just running with the cash?
 

venkman

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2007
4,950
11
81
talk to chuck


ps. if you knowingly cash a fake check, i'm pretty sure that's a crime.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,947
19,190
136
Originally posted by: geno
Originally posted by: state 08
Meijers cash checks for $5. Go do it there. What do ya got to lose?

Then he's effectively screwing over Meijers since they won't get the money for the check. But in all honestly, what's keeping him from doing so and just running with the cash?

Don't place like that usually have a $500 limit?
 

ggnl

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
5,095
1
0
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Originally posted by: tasmanian
Originally posted by: Flammable
you're not going to be losing money...deposit it

As long as you don't spend it.

If it's your own bank, it'll bounce and you'll pay a fee.

I'm pretty sure it's considered fraud to cash a check you know is fake.
 

oiprocs

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
3,780
2
0
Get a fake ID, what's that like 50 bucks? 100 if you want a good one?

Go to check n cash, or whatever those places are, cash the check, profit.

I know I'm missing a few steps but this should get you started.
 

D1gger

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,411
2
76
Originally posted by: ElFenix
so how do they scam you?

By having you give the "excess" amount of the cheque to an accomplice (the moving company). The bank then removes the entire amount of the cheque from your account when they discover it is a bad cheque and you are out whatever you forwarded to accomplice, plus the bad cheque fees.
 

DaTT

Garage Moderator
Moderator
Feb 13, 2003
13,295
122
106
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Originally posted by: tasmanian
Originally posted by: Flammable
you're not going to be losing money...deposit it

As long as you don't spend it.

If it's your own bank, it'll bounce and you'll pay a fee.

Don't you only pay a fee if the money is not there to cover its badness? At least I believe that is how it is at my bank.