potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

posting for a friend, he sold something on the myspace personals for 1500, the dude who claims to be representing clients in africa sends him 3000 in travelers checks with my friends name on them and tells him to cash them, and then wire the other 1500 to a third party along with the item that was sold. this to me sounds like a sure fire scam, i would like to know what your guys plays would be

edit: the checks looks legit, seem to have a watermark and look to the untrained observers (my friend and i) to be legit, but we know virtually 0 about travelers checks

Re: potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

Scam.

Re: potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

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Scam.

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Re: potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

Wow, I can't beleive that people actually fall for [censored] like that.

Re: potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

If they're AMEX or Visa, I'd check the company website. Probably a phone number you could call to verify the check numbers on the top right (RA ###-###-###) are valid and not stolen. Alternatively, deposit them to your bank account and don't wire any money until they clear.

Re: potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

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Alternatively, deposit them to your bank account and don't wire any money until they clear.

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WRONG!!!!!

it will "cleared" by your bank, and many days later it will be rejected

Re: potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

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sends him 3000 in travelers checks with my friends name on them and tells him to cash them, and then wire the other 1500 to a third party along

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Hey look! It's a red flag!

Re: potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

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Alternatively, deposit them to your bank account and don't wire any money until they clear.

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WRONG!!!!!

it will "cleared" by your bank, and many days later it will be rejected

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Bank's loss.

Re: potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

[ QUOTE ]
posting for a friend, he sold something on the myspace personals for 1500, the dude who claims to be representing clients in africa sends him 3000 in travelers checks with my friends name on them and tells him to cash them, and then wire the other 1500 to a third party along with the item that was sold. this to me sounds like a sure fire scam, i would like to know what your guys plays would be

edit: the checks looks legit, seem to have a watermark and look to the untrained observers (my friend and i) to be legit, but we know virtually 0 about travelers checks

[/ QUOTE ]

This is called a cash-back scam, or at least a variation of. Somebody steals or forges a check, then goes to a bank to deposit it but they want half or most of the amount in cash. Checks may look legit, but they could be washed. If your friend gets involved, he gets stuck with the bag because he's the one who deposited the checks. The checks bounce or have a stop payment on them, and he just wired $1500 of his money to Africa.

Don't know what you should do with the checks or the buyer. I suppose you could take the checks to the bank for an opinion.

ScottieK

Re: potentially counterfeit travelers checks
 

at best this is money laundering