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February 11, 2010
SCAM UPDATE
Wouldn’t you know. Just as soon as I had sent my last article about scams into the publisher, I, myself, was the target of one of the so-called “Nigerian Scams”. With the advent of the internet and the ability to post items for sale on websites such as Craigslist, scammers have an unlimited number of opportunities to get your cash into their pockets. Here’s my story;
It seems like my car was going into the shop on a regular basis for repairs. I was on a first name basis with all of the service technicians. I had enough, so I traded the car in. The only item remaining was my snow tires that were mounted on a nice set of rims. These were still in the garage and I put them up for sale on an internet website called Craigslist.
Soon, I received an email from “Maria” stating that she wanted to purchase the rims and tires. She said she would send a check, but was on assignment in Washington DC and would not be able to pick them up immediately. I gave her my office address and sure enough, the following day, FEDEX delivered an envelope, and enclosed was a bank check for $1,300.00. This was $1,000.00 more that the $300 I was asking for the tires!
RULE #1 – Anyone who sends you more money than you requested for an item that you are selling is trying to scam you!
My “radar” had detected a scam and I contacted the Saugus Police. They were very familiar with the scam and said next will come a request from “Maria” for me to mail her the $1,000.00 excess. Sure enough, the next email requested that I send a Moneygram to her mechanic who would be picking up the tires.
Although I tried to entice “Maria” to send someone over and pick up the tires by offering to give the pickup person $1,000.00 in cash, no one ever came. The police would have arrested them on the spot. I received additional emails telling me that I need to send the money immediately to her mechanic at an address in South Carolina. Why would anyone ever buy snow tires in South Carolina?
The emails have stopped. What I know is that “Maria” was a fictitious name. She never had any interest in what I was selling, only in trying to get me to deposit her check (that would have bounced within a few weeks) and send her my “good” money. I would have been out a thousand dollars.
Don’t be a sucker! If you receive a check for more than the sales price of the goods you are trying to sell. Call the police.
This article gives general information and not specific advice on individual matters. Persons wanting individualized advice on matters discussed should contact an advisor experienced in those matters. To the extent this article provides information on legal matters, it is based on law in effect in Massachusetts on the date of posting (laws in effect in other states are often quite different).
Ronald H. Surabian is a CPA and attorney who works at the Elder Law Center in Saugus, Massachusetts. He also holds Masters in accounting and a Masters in tax law. He currently serves as the President of the Friends of the Saugus Senior Center and is an active member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. If you have any questions, please call me at the Elder Law Center, One Essex Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781)233-4444. To view this or any prior article, please visit our web site at www.elderlawcenter.org