I was trying to sell my camcorder online to get money to pay the application fee for college back in May. Someone sent me a check for more than what he was supposed to pay & then asked me to cash the check & then Western Union the money back to him. He disguised himself as a woman & only called my house from the computer, so there was no way to track him down. When I went to cash the check, the clerk thought I was trying to play her for a fool, & she called the cops, & I got arrested for "forgery" that I didn't even do. I didn't know that the guy stole someone's business checks & wrote one to me. The judge said I was arrested by mistake. When I got out of jail the next day, the detective said that if this happens to me again, then it WON'T be a mistake for me to go to jail. I could've served 10 yrs. in prison for a felony charge & have to pay $10,000. Now, I don't even believe in accepting checks or money orders from people. This was my 1st experience with this.
2007-08-21 15:20:40 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
That's messed up that I have to have a criminal charge for something that someone did to me. Because of the other person committing fraud, & it looking bad on me. & the scammer got to run free.
2007-08-21 15:21:49 · update #1
Yes I am telling the whole story. How do you know it's not the whole story if you weren't there?
2007-08-21 15:32:23 · update #2
Actually this has happened before. The person who sent you the check can be prosecuted but the D.A. usually does not bother to do that, especially if they are out of state.
It is too late now but you could have reported him to the Postal Inspector if he sent the check through the mail.
It is totally unfair. I have heard of other cases when it does not get straightened out until the check bounces or is reported stolen; this is after it has been cashed. Then you are out the money the money the person sent you plus the money you sent him if you have to pay restitution.
I do not blame you for not accepting checks any longer.
2007-08-21 21:10:18 · answer #1 · answered by Patti C 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anytime someone sends you a check or a money order for more than the purchase amount and wants you to western union the difference back to them it is a scam. Just think about that for half a second. How could you not have known that?
2007-08-21 15:28:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
You are not telling the whole story, Why would the bank clerk think you were playing her for a fool? Did you sign the check, how could you be charged with forgery if you didn't sign the check? This story sounds fishy to me........########
2007-08-21 15:30:35 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
love all ,trust none, but GOD. alone .there are a lot of despicable sharks out there in cyberspace who prey on trusting but naive people like your self.go immediately to victim support for legal advice and support... and ask them how you stand. this is an outrageous hustle by a blood sucking parasite.my heart goes out to you.......Learn from this unpleasant experience,but don't let it twist you love Trev.
2007-08-21 15:52:43 · answer #4 · answered by TREVOR B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋