Is this a con

Posted by: Trevor Bennett on 27 March 2004

Hi.
I am selling my cdx on hififorsale.com and had a reply asking for some pictures.So I sent a few and got this reply the next day:-

Thanks for the response. I have contacted my aunty she said she
will issue to you a cheque of £3500 after you send the following info:
your full name .................
address..........................
phone number.......................

The money is for you to deduct your money and send the balance
to the shipper who will come for the pick-up from your destination when the
cheque clears in your bank or prefferably you go your nearest cahing pointsto cash
the money.

It looks very suspicious as I am asking £1325 for the player.Any thoughts

Cheers
Trevor

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by okyknot

Positively a scam. STAY AWAY!!!!

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by ben r

definate con without a doubt

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by JeremyD

Ask them if they would like you to arrange for some of your fellow police officers in the Armed Response Unit to handle delivery of the money.

On second thoughts, don't bother...

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by John Sheridan

quote:
Originally posted by topsymac:
Hi.
I am selling my cdx on hififorsale.com and had a reply asking for some pictures.So I sent a few and got this reply the next day:-

Thanks for the response. I have contacted my aunty she said she
will issue to you a cheque of £3500 after you send the following info:
your full name .................
address..........................
phone number.......................

and after you give them those details they'll say they've changed their minds and would now like to do a bank transfer, can we please have your bank details... at which point they can get credit in your name.

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by Trevor Bennett

Hi.
Thanks for all your replies.. I thought it was a bit dodgy.

Cheers
Trevor

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by John Sheridan

quote:
Originally posted by topsymac:
Hi.
Thanks for all your replies.. I thought it was a bit dodgy.

Cheers
Trevor

oh, and another thought, if it is 'legit' then it's also a good way of money laundering or obtaining a UK bank account to shift money from some other scam.

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by J.N.

Hi Trevor

I've sold several bits of Naim kit through Topica.

Preferably; I get interested parties to come to me. Failing that; I've arranged to meet somewhere half way; and this has worked well on several occasions.

Better for the vendor and purchaser to meet and establish trust. Also the goods can be examined.

Accept nothing but cash. Cheques bounce or can be stopped. Bankers drafts can be forged.

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by Phil Barry

I believe the major element in this scam is that the check you receive is bogus (often kited), but very professional. It takes weeks to discover the problem with the check. Meanwhile, the scammers have your equipment and your 'refund'.

Regards.

Phil

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by garyi

HIFIForsale seems a well dodgy place for purchasing stuff dosn't it?

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by sideshowbob

quote:

and after you give them those details they'll say they've changed their minds and would now like to do a bank transfer, can we please have your bank details... at which point they can get credit in your name.

Not true, if someone is in possession of your bank details they can't do a lot with that information on its own. Whenever I'm buying or selling gear without collection in person, I generally arrange payment of cash directly into a bank account - it's far cheaper than Paypal, or a bank transfer, in fact, there are no bank charges involved.

Nevertheless, this is a scam, it's cropped up elsewhere recently:

http://www.zerogain.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3337

I've bought and sold a few times on hififorsale.com with no problems, but like any online marketplace you need to use your head and walk away from any transaction that looks in any way even slightly dodgy.

-- Ian

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by prowla

I agree with the above - if your £2175 refund cheque is good and their £3500 cheque is bad then they (or their "auntie") have just made a rather nice profit!

Paul

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by garyi

Send them your own dodgy cheque. Could be a larf.

Posted on: 27 March 2004 by jimj

If you are not being conned then aunty is for certain. I wonder how much the sweet old girl paid for his new car?

I think you are wise to walk quickly away from this transaction.

jimmyj