Can somebody tell me if this is a scam or not?

[chechi]

A guy contacts me on ICQ and tells me he lives in Ukrain, and sells electronics to people in the US. He says he has problems collecting the money and that if I will accept the payments from people via paypal, check, or money order, and send them to him, that I can keep 20%. Sounds shady as hell to me. What do you guys think? Ever heard of this scam?

 

[minendo]

Scam. What is the company name?

 

[Entity]

Scam.

If you can post more info (company name, etc.) we can probably figure out how it works. Here's one possibility:

He has people send money to you from stolen credit cards, forged accounts, etc. You then send 80% of the money on to him. When PayPal, etc., tries to trace the stolen cards, they'll come up to your account, the money will be charged to you, and you'll be out the 80% you passed on to him.

Sounds like you'd just be the central part of a not-so-sophisticated money laundering scheme.

Rob

 

[Heisenberg]

Scam.

 

[minendo]

Link 1
Link 2

Any chance its the same company?

 

[chechi]

lol, I thought I was talking to a person, but now I think its automated, it just repeated itself. Damnit, I am an idiot! Lol

 

[chechi]

oh now hes actually answering my questions, time to screw with him, lol.

 

[Haircut]

If you have to ask then 99.99% of the time it's a scam.

 

[Vegito]

This scam is always on tv.. dont trust it

 

[HappyPuppy]

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it probably isn't a rhinoceros.

 

[chechi]

This paticular scam? And how is it a scam if money is being sent to me and I dont pay anything. I know it sounds shady as hell, but if I just transfer the money, how do I lose?

 

[PistachioByAzul]

Because they're trying to launder it through you, the playing dumb defense won't work against the insurance lawyers and federal prosecutors.

 

[N8Magic]

<< This paticular scam? And how is it a scam if money is being sent to me and I dont pay anything. I know it sounds shady as hell, but if I just transfer the money, how do I lose? >>



Because when the shadiness of this operation is exposed (only a matter of time), they five-oh will be coming for YOU, because you accepted the money, and are based in the US where the feds have jurisdiction. The dude in the Ukraine will be laughing with 80% of the profits in his pocket and there is nothing that the feds can do.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

<< but if I just transfer the money, how do I lose? >>


Um, read Entity's response. You sound quite interested in this, so you get my blessing. Go ahead and give it a try. If it works, you earned some money. If it doesn't, you're out a sh*tload of money or a few years of your life (state Penn).

 

[chechi]

Well I am not going to do it, I dont want any legal problems. But I wish I could ask a Trade Attorney about it. He said that if I just wanted to accept money orders that it would be about $3000-$4000 a week! I keep 20%, and that I would have to western union the rest of the money. I think anything over $1000 you have to show ID. I wish I knew what he was doing exactly though.

 

[HappyPuppy]

There is absolutely no way this is legal. If it was legal, they would be able to set up an account with a bank someplace.

 

[toant103]

SCAM, come on now, business on ICQ

 

[chechi]

Its not a scam, I think its money filtering and very illegal, not sure where exactly this money is comming from, but I dont want to risk it. I dont need jail or prison. Hopefully he won't contact me again. It was tempting though.

 

[Cyberian]

<< Its not a scam, I think its money filtering and very illegal, >>

Oh, OK, as long as it's not a scam.

 

[chechi]

Its not a scam on me anyways, thats what I meant. I wouldnt be getting ripped off. But would probably end up locked up.

 

[cressida]

hmm... it's not a scam?

OK

 

[Turin39789]

so you make him a shi7load of dough and then get locked up for it and its not a scam? They arent going to let you keep the money when they take you down

 

[Hossenfeffer]

<< Its not a scam on me anyways, thats what I meant. I wouldnt be getting ripped off. >>

That's what millions of scammed people say to themselves before they take the plunge on a free lunch.

 

[chechi]

Lol, alright already, I said I wasnt doing it because I know its shady. Jeeze.

 

[911paramedic]

"cough" money laundering "cough"