Have you encountered this scheme?
Yes, exact same name (0)
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Yes, but different name (1)
100%
Quite similar to this one (0)
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I know of someone who did (0)
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Hi,

One common method is for someone to offer to send a certified check, paying MORE than your asking price. They'll "trust" you that you will deposit the check, wait for a few days for it to clear and then write a check for the extra funds and give it to the buyer's local agent or shipper.

Of course, your bank will deposit the check and it will appear in your online statement two or three days later. You'll also get an email, that the "agent" is out of town, but to please mail your check instead.

By the time you bank finds out that the "certified" check was forged, or was no longer covered by the time your bank tried to collect and then notifies you by mail a few days later - some poor "work from home doing collections" homebody has since laundered your money (unknowingly) and you'll be left a few thou poorer.

Here a real-live sample of the emails they've been using repeatedly in a recent campaign:

------------- ORIGINAL EMAIL --------------

GOOD DAY,

Yes we are really interested, I have forwarded your car information to my client and after evaluation due to time constraint, I'm delighted to tell you that my client has recommended your car, with full interest and he has instructed me to carry on with this transaction.
Hope the engine and body is in good condition?

He also instructed me to inform you that payment will get to you in a Cashier's Check in the amount of 24,000$ which will cover the cost of the car and also the cost of shipment.
So you are required to deduct the cost of your car 15,000$ when payment gets to you, you send the balance of 9,000$ to the shipping Agent (The shipper ) for him to be able to of set shipping & tax charges and other cosmetic repair costs.

Now we really need your Truth & Honesty with definite assurance that the balance will honestly be send to the shipper when payment gets to you, as we have made alternative arrangement not to stress you in shipment.
After payment has reached you and balance sent to shipper, the shipper's agent will come for inspection, pick up the car & signing of title papers, make some cosmetic touches and drive to a prepaid shipper to be ship to my customer.

Further more, please confirm these and provide the following for payment to be made out and sent to you.

LEGAL NAME:.........
VALID ADDRESS:..........
TELL/CELLPHONE:..........

Your Honesty and understanding will be highly appreciated

Best-regards,

Walter Joe
Sales Manager
Choice Motors
102 Grafton Road
London
NW5 4BA
Phone: +44-703-592-5148

The Internet Crime Complaint Center has an explanation how the "Cashier's Cheque" scheme works:
http://www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx#item-3

Here's another version:

Hello,
I just forwarded your car information to my client and after evaluation due to time constraint, I'm delighted to tell you that my client has recommended your car, with full interest and he has instructed me to carry on with this transaction.Hope the engine and body is in good condition?

... [exactly the same as above]

Further more, please confirm these and provide the following for payment to be made out and sent to you.
LEGAL NAME:.........
VALID ADDRESS:..........
TELL/CELLPHONE:...........

Your Honesty and understanding will be highly appreciated

Best-regards,
Robert Florzak
+44-702-404-2997.

Another origin for this scheme is:
Marsha Wylie, marshawylie@yahoo.com

Thanks for the response back.I am happy and satisfied with the information about it okay and i hope all is going on fine with you and your family today . I am sure in good condition.This is all the requirements needed at this time. I have someone that will handle every other things necessary when he comes to your location and this is my agent/transporter. The price is okay by me and i will pay the amount

I will like to pay the full amount plus an extra 70€ for you to keep other buyers off and 50€ to have it deleted from the website till it is picked up by this agent.

So please reply back to me, and also keep other buyers off. My banker will send you a certified Banker's Draft of xxx,xxx€ and when you receive the check,you take it to your Bank,so Can I trust you to have it deposited in your Bank and when the money clears into your Account, you can take your own money plus the extra money and send/wire the balance to this agent/transporter that will come
to your location to collect it because the money /balance will be used by this agent to pay for customs fees,flight charges,insurance and other expenses during the picking up and will be done by this my agent and this is the reason why i have some to do the whole stress and you are not to do it for me,okay .

So,let me know if i can trust you and get back to me with your information below so that i can instruct the check to be mailed to you. If yes, kindly reply with the following payment details so I can inform him to make out payment to
you.
Thank you.
NAME AS TO APPEAR ON CHEQUE.................
HOME ADDRESS AND POST CODE...................
PHONE NUMBER TO REACH YOU ON.........{home,work & mobile}

The original inquiry was:

I SAW THE ADVERT OF YOUR ITEM FOR SALE AND AM REALLY INTERESTED IN IT, I WILL LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE.PLS GET BACK TO ME WITH THE PICTURE(S),THE LAST PRICE OFFER,THE PRESENT CONDITION AND ALSO IF IT CAN BE PICKED UP AT YOUR LOCATION .
I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOONEST