Crosswords0 min ago
Scam?
88 Answers
I have been contacted in my capacity as a writer to proof and edit a document, and asked for a quote.
We have agreed a fee, and I have asked for £50 deposit.
The client advises me that a cheque has been sent, but for £220, could I refund the difference?
Now, in theory, nothing can go wrong - if the money is not credited to my accont, obviously i send no money back, but something is not quite ringing true.
I have written back asking for a cheque for £50 for the deposit as agreed, and I will complete the task on its receipt, and invoice for the remainder.
the erronious cheque I have agreed to return or destroy as the client wishes.
So - i can't lose, but even so, this is sounding very much like a scam - anyone got any thoughts?
We have agreed a fee, and I have asked for £50 deposit.
The client advises me that a cheque has been sent, but for £220, could I refund the difference?
Now, in theory, nothing can go wrong - if the money is not credited to my accont, obviously i send no money back, but something is not quite ringing true.
I have written back asking for a cheque for £50 for the deposit as agreed, and I will complete the task on its receipt, and invoice for the remainder.
the erronious cheque I have agreed to return or destroy as the client wishes.
So - i can't lose, but even so, this is sounding very much like a scam - anyone got any thoughts?
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It`s a well known scam and I think it`s on the increase because I have read about it recently somewhere http://
Should the cheque clear (sounds unlikely) then write back and say you will deduct the remaining £170 from the final bill. This is a very old scam, going back to the days before cheque guarantee cards. You would go into a shop, buy some goods, 'mistakenly' write a cheque for more than the amount then ask for the difference in cash. You left with goods plus cash. The cheque would invariably bounce.
Prudie - "I thought this was a well known scam and wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. You send them the difference and then the original cheque never clears."
I understand that there are people who would be naiive enough to send the balance back before the original cheque had cleared - but as i pointed out in my OP, I am not one of them. I would wait for the funds to be credited - which I suspect they will not be - hence my Question to see if anyone else knows about this.
I understand that there are people who would be naiive enough to send the balance back before the original cheque had cleared - but as i pointed out in my OP, I am not one of them. I would wait for the funds to be credited - which I suspect they will not be - hence my Question to see if anyone else knows about this.
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It's a complete scam, very well known, it might appear to clear after 3 or 4 days but in reality won't have and will be returned at a later date because banks are set up to clear after 3-5 days even when the cheque can still bounce. It's particularly dangerous if you take a cheque from abroad as it will show as cleared after 3-5 days but won't be and can bounce up to 6 weeks later.
kvalidir - "It's a complete scam, very well known, it might appear to clear after 3 or 4 days but in reality won't have and will be returned at a later date because banks are set up to clear after 3-5 days even when the cheque can still bounce. It's particularly dangerous if you take a cheque from abroad as it will show as cleared after 3-5 days but won't be and can bounce up to 6 weeks later."
Thanks for the additional information.
Prior to posting, it was always my intention to take my cheque into the bank and confirm its veracity, as well as confirming that the money had arrived in my account, before sending any money back.
On reflection - the notion of a total stranger sending over £200 to another total stranger on the basis that they will refund 75% of it drives a coach and horses through the believeability of the entire set-up.
Thanks for the additional information.
Prior to posting, it was always my intention to take my cheque into the bank and confirm its veracity, as well as confirming that the money had arrived in my account, before sending any money back.
On reflection - the notion of a total stranger sending over £200 to another total stranger on the basis that they will refund 75% of it drives a coach and horses through the believeability of the entire set-up.
