Does anyone know if a person can play a scam on people with a cashiers check?

Question

I posted my story on a website for prayer and financial help. A man e-mailed me and offered to help me by sending a donation. I let him do it just to see what would happen and I received a cashiers check in the mail and I took it to my bank but they put a hold on it to verify it. The only thing that puzzled me was he wants to give me an address to western union a portion of the money to another person in need and that sounds strange.

I shouldn't have done anything with the check because it's probably a scam and I'll be charged. I figured with it being a cashiers check and you have to pay to get it and the bank is real so I assume it might be real money.

I guess people could get cashier checks from banks somehow and print them out. I don't know I'm afraid I made a big mistake and I'm going to suffer for it. If anyone can give me advice please help me with your opinion.

Answer 1

Yes, I've read about cases where people have been scammed with very authentic looking, but phony, cashiers checks. Sorry to hear it.

Answer 2

If it's across state lines, contact the FBI financial crimes unit and let them know the address of the Western Union destination. I would forget about ever getting any funds from the cashier's check.

When you had the check in your possession, you could've called the bank in question and asked to verify the funds and the check (you give them the check number). Don't call the phone number on the face of the check; look it up in the phone book. Also if you're still unsure you could fax it to the bank. Then you could be reasonably sure the check is real, but in this case I would say it is not ... because of the Western Union request.

Answer 3

If you receive funds for the check and send a portion of it, as requested (by the scammer) and the Cashier's Check is a forgery, you'll be responsible to return the entire sum to the bank which gave you the funds. The check was most likely sent for you to cash, it being forged, in hopes that you would forward the requested portion, leaving you responsible and obligated to pay the entire amount back to the originating bank. Then you'd really be praying for money since the FBI is heavily investigating these scams.

Answer 4

Well, that would be one reason that your bank held it, to verify the account and authenticity of the check. If they deposit it, it means it cleared, but you should have called the bank it was drawn on first, especially since you didn't know this man. Also, the fact that he asked you to send a portion of the money to someone else is very suspicious. I would contact the police, and call the bank's fraud department and explain it to them as well. They will be able to trace what's going on pretty easily. I wouldn't spend any of the money until you're sure everything is on the up and up.

Answer 5

Never accept cashiers checks on craigs list. ONLY accept money orders if you are going to cash them and THEN release the item you are selling. It is best to deal with any monitary transaction via PayPal or similar so as to increase your security and payment. Once the money clears, again, release the item/s to the buyer or their representative if they prefer, but make sure whoever picks it up has proof of I.D or business so that you might contact them in the future if you should need to (say if something went missing in your house or an item is broken, or something is claimed to be missing) - get reciepts and give reciepts, signed, where possible. xx

Answer 6

Yes, that does sound fishy. Just wait to see if the check clears. If not, you'll have the answer.

Answer 7

It is a scam. Take it to the police.

Answer 8

Scam.....forget him