People that are running classified ads to sell their boats, or whatever are starting to get those scam offers. [color:"red"] Don't answer them and simply ignore them. [/color]
Here is a link to an article that explains it all:
http://www.scamvictimsunited.com/counterfeit_cashier's_check.htm
So beware, once again.
Rick

Rick,

My brother was running a classified ad on this site. A similar incident happened to him about 3 months ago when he was selling his catamaran. A person replied to his ad from South Africa. He sent him an e-mail and wanted the boat at the asking price of $6,000. He said he would send him $7,200 for the boat, and ask him to deposit the extra $1,200 in another account in the US for him. The extra money was supposedly for shipping. This sounds like the exact scam. Anyway, it sounded fishy, and he just told him to forget it. I agree, anything that sounds too good,....... well you know the rest.

Seller beware.

Don

We had a lot reports a while back and then they subsided, and now they are making another surge.
There is nothing we can do about it, but then again it is not a problem unless some unsuspecting ad runner falls for the ploy.
Happy sailing,
Rick

If you get anything like the message reproduced here, [color:"red"] do not reply, just erase it. [/color] This kind of criminal scam is not new, has already been reported to the authorities, but keeps coming once or twice a month.

QUOTE

From: "Mr. Shaun Milanzi"
To: (you)
Subject: Strictly Confidential
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 01:01:56 +0100
OFFICE TEL: 00 27 83 774 1996

11th August, 2003.
DIRECT TEL: 00 871 763 432 220
DIRECT FAX: 00 871 763 432 221


STRICTLY URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL

I am Mr.Shaun Milanzi a native of South Africa. I am a senior employee of South Africa Department of Mineral and Energy Resources. You were introduced to us in confidence
through the South African Chambers of Commerce and Foreign trade division.

I am writing this letter to solicit your co-operation in order to redeem an investment currently held under trust with the Department of Mineral and Energy Resources of South Africa. The said investment now valued at USD$28.5(Twenty Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars), was originally purchased by one Mr. Dwight Ausserer, and leased to the Transvaal Orange Mining Corporation in 1977.

Since the maturity of this contract in September 1997, several attempts have been made without success to contact Mr. Dwight Ausserer or any of his close relatives, in whose favour the investment cash value can be paid.

My partner, who is the Account Director in the same Department and I, have initiated the process of filing a claim for this money with the hope of having the funds transferred to you.

In order to do this, we will swear an affidavit in the High Court of my country stating that you are a distant cousin and next of kin to Mr. Dwight Ausserer the owner of the money and giving you the legal authority to administer his estate. After which, we will File a claim for this
money from the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources, indicating that you were appointed by Mr. Ausserer to be the beneficiary of these funds.

When the claim is approved you as the beneficiary will be paid the sum of USD$28.5M. The money will be paid directly to any bank of your choice ; you will have the responsibility to ensure that my partner and I receive 75% of the money while you keep the remaining 20% for your
assistance. The remaining 5% will be for incidental expenses.

I want to assure you that my partner and I are in a position to make the payment of this claim possible provided that you can give us very strong guarantee that our share will be secured, and that you will not take advantage of our position.

Be assured that there is absolutely nothing to worry about in the view of this claim. It is perfectly safe with no risks involved, and it is not subject to any inquiry, since my partner and I will be handling the claim directly in South Africa on your behalf.

I do hope my proposal is acceptable to you. Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter, by fax so that I can provide you with more clarification about the claim and how we intend to make this deal beneficial to everyone involved, Please reach me at my direct phone line for confidential Reasons.

Yours Sincerely

Shaun Milanzi.

UNQUOTE

Hey!! I got the same message! What you cuttin' in on my action? Dang I thought I was someone special...

Now if it was $28 dollars he was offering, then he might have something there.

Its amazing that someone would actually believe you would get that much money for nothing.

Cheers

Clayton

Message deleted immediately.

I read the other day that the South African Scam can be very dangerous... apparently one person has been known to have been murdered and others are "missing" as a result of falling for it...

e.g.

http://www.scambusters.org/NigerianFee.html
http://www.scambusters.org

Note that although they mention Nigeria, S.Africa and other African countries, the texts seem to be from someone relatively proficient in finance - enough to be convincent. I believe the brains are elsewhere. And this thing is old. Before internet, very similar scams were sent by mail and then fax, but were less common. With the net, I'm getting a couple a month

Today,I was contacted by a man identifying himself as John Mill, who asked some questions about the Wave I have for sale.
I answered his questions, and he replied by offering me my asking price. But, since he was not in Florida ( or even the USA, I gather!) He had a "client" in Florida who owed him $6500. He would direct the client to send the $6500 "cheque" to me. I was to deposit the check, keeping $3500 for the boat and then WESTERN UNION him the extra $3K!
Sorry: My wife doesn't wear shirts emblazoned with the phrase " I'm with STUPID"!!!!
I just received another inquiry about the boat from a person with a foreign sounding name.
Stay tuned!
Bob Cowgill
Cocoa, Florida
E-mail:rcowgill@cfl.rr.com

Have him mail you the cheque, cash it (don't deposit it) then call him back and tell him to come get it.

Of course there is no cheque to start with, but it sounded good...

Actually I think they do send you a check but depending on where it's from, it could take quite some time for it to bounce. Of course then the bank will come after you for the money they just gave you. Sure, you've got $3500 (and your boat still) but you just wired somebody (overseas) the other $3000 that the bank is holding you accountable for. I wonder how many people DO fall for that?

I've always said that we are really lucky that the crooks in this world aren't any smarter than they are....we could be coming into some trouble!

Checks drawn on US banks may be cancelled up to 5 (FIVE) years after issued.

You could cash or receive the corresponding credit and forget the issue, only to find years after that it was cancelled - and you have to return the money.

Take care,
Luiz

Another downside of this scam is that you become a criminal when you present a counterfeit check to the bank. There have been some people that were arrested for just asking the bank if it was a good check. How do they know you aren't part of the scam? Right, they don't. Even if they hold you accountable for the cash, you have still broken the law by cashing a counterfeit check. Some people have had a similar situation turn into a living nightmare.

Stay away from these offers.

Just got this today...

Dear Owner
I humbly write as directed by my client who is interested in your 2001 Inter 17R,which is at the rate of $10,250 I will like to view its picture and to know your last offer .I shall be paying by forwarding a cheque.Kindly send all your information in details to enable me arrange for the cheque. The shipping will be arrange
within my client and his shipper.I do need your phone #.
Thank you and best regard
jimmy
--
_______________________________________________
Get your free email from http://www.jojomail.com
THAIWARE Free Download - http://www.thaiware.com




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Smells very fishy to me

I'm not replying!

I don't think you become a criminal when you are tricked into depositing a stolen check in your account, but since you entered the chain of payment, you will certainly have to demonstrate the nature of your involvement, which could be a difficult task if you are not properly documented. Can you prove you are inocent showing only emails? (not likely)

Banks are part of the chain of payment and also need to prove that stolen checks were deposited by a customer, etc. The key safety rule here is: "know your counterpart". This means you have to identify him positively and document the transaction. This is advisable for all transactions.

Take care,
Luiz

Luiz,

If only it were that simple. When somebody gives you a counterfeit or stolen certified check for payment, and you accept it, it is yours. When you try to cash it, all of a sudden, you become the bad guy trying to pawn off a bad check. This is a perfect example of an innocent participant taking the heat. That's part of the scam. If you don't think so, check into the website that Rick included in his original post. There are some horror stories that innocent people got themselves into.

I agree with you, know the parties that you're doing business. If not, walk away.

This is the kind of reply I would send, if I dared...

QUOTE

Dear Jimmy,

Thanks for your offer, which is certainly very interesting. Before completing the transaction, we need to settle the following details.

a) A wire transfer directly to my account and originated by the future owner is the only acceptable payment system for this deal.

2) I will need proper identification of the owner to prepare the standard purchase contract we both need for documentation, tax and transport purposes.

3) In case an intermediary is to participate in the deal, I am willing to consider licensed brokers/brokerage companies only. I will also have to check if your choice of broker is acceptable and for this purpose the complete information about the broker - name, ID, registration, license number, etc. - will be necessary.

I trust those simple details will be easy enough to comply with.
Regards,

UNQUOTE

If it is a scheme, there will be no follow up.

Take care,

This is another sample of criminal internet use.
If something like that is received, [color:"red"]do not reply. [/color]

QUOTE

From: "Musa Bakare"
To: YOU
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2003 20:20:23 -0700
Subject: hello


FROM: BAR.MUSA BAKARE WILLIAMS COOKEY & CO CHAMBERS. Urgent Assistance. I am Barrister MUSA BAKARE, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Douglas Forman a national of your country, who used to work with shell development company in Nigeria. Before his death On the 21st of April 1999 [my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along sagbama express road in which all occupants of the motor died}. My client {Douglas} deposited as family belongings in a CONSIGNMENT the sum of $6million in a Standard Finance & Securities Company here in Nigeria for himself, with the hope of transferring it to his country as soon as he is on leave. Since his death I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating this money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the security company where these Consignment (Money) was Deposited. Particularly, the Standard Finance & Securities Company where the deceased Deposited the Consignment valued it at about $6 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this Consignments (Money) valued at $6 million dollars can be claimed by you and then you and I can share the money in this ratio: 70% to me and 30% to you. Note that all the necessary legal documents that is required to back up the claim are in my possession, and I will make them available to you once you agree to co-operate with me to claim the consignment Finally, this deal does not amount to any breach of law or illegal proceed as the documents will empower you legally as the next of kin to receive the consignment. Further, your honest co-operation is needed to enable us see this dealt through. Send your response to my email: musabaka6@ecplaza.net Best regards, MUSA BAKARE

UNQUOTE

Hi,
I'm a stranger trying to buy parts for my catamaran, It's hard to find this stuff used here in my country, Chile. I've contacted two possible sellers, but it seems that they've got scared after knowing I'm not north american. I think that shipping only after getting the cash (real cash, not a deposit) is safe enough for the seller, isn't it? In one case I included my phone number and offered to call the seller, supposing that this could add a bit of confidece, maybe asking for information is a source of suspicion?
I understand the concerns, and would appreciate any help to be able to access to these opportunities, after all, my act of confidence is much bigger if I'm willing to send money before getting anything.

That hurts

Has anyone ever looked into using paypal as a option for moving money around? i've used it a few times for small items (from auctions etc and had someone actually pay me for some cd's through that as well). IT works fairly good, and the money can be transferred to your bank account or credit card. Might be a good way of avoiding 'bad cheques'

paul