Consumer Fraud Craigslist scam

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Dontknowwhattod

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I guess shame on us. We were selling a car on Craigslist. We wanted to sell it asap. Got lots of takers but we obviously went with the wrong one. They sent an email saying the wanted the car (sight unseen, first mistake). They emailed quite a few times before my husband decided to check it out. They were offering the asking price ($800). They sent a check to us ($2,900, second mistake). We were to take out our $800 + $100 for our time and Western Union the rest to the "movers" (third mistake). We cashed the check (bank said it was a good check, fourth mistake). We took out our portion, then did with the rest what was to be done. Got an email back saying everything was set, "movers" got their money, when can they pick up the car? Date and time was set. A 1/2 hr. before they were to be there, they called and said we needed to check our email right away. Did that and this is what we get, "movers" were in a bad accident, we needed to send the $900 to a hospital in Georgia so the doctor could save their lives and that more money would be sent in a week for the car. Well, my husband, being a man, sent them an email saying sorry about the "movers", but the deal was made and the car would be here for them to come pick up. They went back and forth with this for about a week. Now all of a sudden we get a phone call from our bank saying that they tried to put this check through twice and no go and now we are responsible for the check ($2,900). Now what do we do? We should have used better judgement with this! But we need help. We honestly do not know what to do. There is no way possible we can pay that money back. We contacted the state police, they took a report and said they will do some investigating. How is it we're responsible for $2,900 when we only got $900 of it, and shouldn't it be the bank's responsibility, or the bank (Wachovia) who issued the check, or the company whose name was on the check? We're at a loss here. If there's anyone out there who has any advice, pleases holler back. Don't want any responses saying how dumb we were or anything like that. We are already kicking ourselves over this one! Please help!
 
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is very little you can do. You are ultimately responsible for what you deposit into your account. The bank is required by law to make the funds available to you within 5 days of you depositing the cheque, even though it may not have cleared the bank it was drawn on yet. At that time, the bank has essentially loaned you the money on the basis that the cheque will clear. When the cheque subsequently doesn't clear, the bank is entitled to charge it back to your account.
 
Thanks for the reply. I went round and round with the bank yesterday and they told me the same thing. I guess I actually knew that but I needed someone to point it out a few times before it sank in. Appreciate the comment! Guess you live and learn and do stupid things along the way!
 
This is an old scam that people keep pulling. As you said first mistake, second mistake, etc.

The other part of this is, I will 100% guantee that the check is not even a real check, so to answer that part of your question about the person on the check being responsible - they don't exist, and neither does the account that is listed.

The problem with this scam too, is that I've heard of cases where it was up to 4 weeks before it came back. I have a relative who is a police detective, and has investigated many of these. He did have one where the victims bank had to take the fall, only because the teller did not propperly put a hold on the funds being deposited. However that is in Indiana, so PA law will dictate. Also the chances of the same thing happening here are about as good as winning the lottery.
 
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Your situation is very hard. I agree about tpajet said. Those people are not exist. they used different name. That is their way of getting people's money. Be careful there are many scams in craiglists and even in ebay.. That is why i am afraid to purchase online..
 
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