CHECK FRAUD???? Am I being screwed?

okay this is a long one.

I recently foudn a job posting on Craigslist.



This is the add:

**************************************鈥?br>
Hello

I need a Driver for my Grand Mom, someone who can drive well and have a good characters. She will be in your state and city soon and that is why i was checking through on your state at craigslist. She will be coming over soon but will get back to you with the specific dates and time. she will be going shopping Twice a week, she will be spending at least 2hours for shopping in a day. Get back to me immediately if you are interested and remember i want a serious and a well behaved Driver.



I have contacted my Grand Mom concerning the pick up and for other purpose which she might need you for, which she told me it's okay by her,i believe you are fit for this position in as much you will prove yourself a reliable and a good person. I will let you know her arrival date and time but do get it clear that your first payment will have been sent to you before then. I will be offering you $430.00 per week + extra $70.00 for Gas per week. A 2008 Honda Accord car will be provided for you to drive her around so you don't need to have a car before you take up this job position.



Remember that you will make yourself available twice a week to her schedule for 2 hours each day. Also i want you to know that my client who is in US will be sending you a check payment which i want you to know that the remaining funds will be used by my Grand Mom for her travel expenses,accommodations and any other expenses(overdraft), kindly get back to me with the following details of yours below.:-



Full Name...

Address(No P O Box)...

City...

State...

Zip code...

Phone Number...

Sex(M/F)...

Age...



Kindly Forward me the this filled details above if you are good with the offer so that the paycheck can be issued out to you as soon as possible and i will appreciate quick response from you.

Thanks and please get back to me asap..on this email ( equimixsaddleryltd@gmail.com)



Capati Sonia



**************************************鈥?br>


I replied with my info and go this back:



**************************************鈥?br>


Good Morning Lindsey,



I'm highly delighted to inform you that my client has issued the check to you and you will get it today, Please be on the look out for it as it was mailed via UPS to you. Immediately you receive it, Do take it to your bank immediately and get it deposited for 1-2days, after that deduct $250 for yourself and send the remaining funds to my grandmom in the united states via western union, Deduct the western union charges from the remaining money and send the balance.



Here is my grandmom information;



Receivers First Name: Angela

Receivers Last Name: Vaden

Receivers Address: 10031 Buggy Horse Rd

Receivers City: Charlotte

Receivers State: NC (North Carolina)

Receivers Zip code: 28277



When you get to western union, Tell them you want to send the money via money in minutes service and After sending it, Email me the Western Union Mtcn number as well as the amount sent.



Waiting for your response...



Thanks,



Capati.





Note: Please visit the UPS website to track the envelope. The UPS tracking number for the envelope is J1943893520 and click on the UPS tracking link below;



http://www.ups.com/WebTracking/track?loc鈥?/a>



****************************************鈥?br>


I figured it to be a scam until I went to get my mail and there was a UPS delivery. I open it and there's a check for over $1,500 in it. Nothing else.

I called the bank it was drawn from and the funds are insufficient but the account is real.

I emailed him back and let him know the account had no money in it and until it did I could not do anything.

What is this jerk trying to do to me?

If I DID deposit the check and it bounced would he have access to draw money out of my account??



Any help would be appreciated.CHECK FRAUD???? Am I being screwed?
This is a popular scam on craigslist. The basic goal is to get you to deposit the check and then assume it will go through. They want to to withdrawal your own money and give it to them before their check bounces so you'll be out $1,300 or whatever the excess is. It's definitely a scam. Rip up the check. And cancel all contact with them.



Good luck to you!
u know this scam sounds familiar they had something like this on dateline, contact your state attorney General office.CHECK FRAUD???? Am I being screwed?
You've been scammed, my friend.



http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/re鈥?/a>CHECK FRAUD???? Am I being screwed?
Fraud!



Any time someone sends you a check and wants you to send them the balance, be suspicious. You should never have to pay up front for any employment. You should contact your State Attorney General or local police department and notify them of this scam.



You should also flag the ad in Craigslist as a scam.
The check is stolen.



The check is a further attempt to steal money from both you and the account holder.



If you deposit the check, it will appear to clear for a few days because your credit history with the bank is good. When it bounces, the bank will expect you to repay 100% of the money plus $35 for fees.



This is an incredibly common scam. (Both eBay and Craigslist are at a loss to stop it.) It's used for "mystery shopping." rentals (both as fake landlord and fake tenant), ebay purchases etc. The scammers will say *anything* to get you to believe the check is real and to send them some of YOUR money to them via Western Union.
He wont be able to draw money out of your account, but this is definitely a scam. He wants you to go put the check in your account and take the money out immediately. The check will take a few days to process, so the teller at your bank wont know that there is insufficient funds. You then will wire the money to him, and he'll have it free and clear.



In a couple of days the cheque will bounce and the bank will require that you return the money...unfortunately it will already be gone. Do NOT cash the cheque! Call the issuing bank back and inform them of what is going on...they will tell you what steps you can take to get this guy nabbed.
It's a common scam. People deposit the check, you transfer funds to the grandmother account, and then find out the check was bad and you are out the money you transferred.



Turn all the information over to the cops and let them handle it. Do NOT have any further contact with them. Do NOT cash the check.



He could also get your account number from the check.



If it was on Craig's list, let them know about it too.



If it was a random email, you need to wonder why they would contact a total stranger to drive their grandmother around and handle her money.



The address on Buggy Horse also appears to be a vacant lot, based on an aerial map.
This is such a scam... Of course the account is real but as there is no money in it they are trying to get you to send them YOUR money. YOU WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE FUNDS AS YOU WOULD DEPOSIT IT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. I have even seen this on the TV show The People's Court.They want you to "take $250 for yourself" so it appears that they are giving you free money. THIS IS A SCAM, TRUST ME!!!!!! Go to the police with the e-mails and the check. These people need to get caught but that will only happen if people who are being scammed step up and say something!! I am very serious about this. DONT SEND THEM ANY MONEY!!!
If it's too good to be true, then it's probably a scam.



Turn the check into your local authorities