[NvHam] New Twist to Old Scam

[Dick Flanagan]

I have received a report from Brad Hollander KB7FQR regarding a new scam 
that may be targeting amateur radio operators selling equipment over the 
Internet.

The old scam would be they send you a check for much more than the amount 
of the purchase and ask you to send them back the difference.  You would 
send them the difference and then their check would bounce.

Where this scam differs is they send you travelers cheques or other 
certified bank transfer documents providing immediate or guaranteed fund 
transfers.  Even your bank will check them out and tell you they are valid 
documents and will credit your account within a matter of days.  You then 
feel safe in wiring the balance to the purchaser or a "friend of his" in 
Nigeria.

If you dig further, however, and go past your bank's front office and speak 
with their fraud department, you will find the fund transfer documents you 
received were forgeries.  The numbers will check out when your bank checks 
them, but they are fraudulent and worthless.

So if anyone tries to buy a piece of equipment from you and sends you 
"certified" or other guaranteed fund transfer documents amounting to 
significantly more than the purchase price, go to your bank and ask to 
speak with their fraud department supervisor.  This may save you a 
tremendous amount of trouble and keep some of your money from funding 
overseas criminal enterprises, perhaps even terrorism.

This scam is also documented on the web at 
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/carsale.asp where you will find it has 
also been used to purchase cars, motorcycles and even horses.  Of course 
they don't really want your gear, they just want your money.  You can also 
contact Brad by e-mail at <uvc@acninc.net> or check with your local bank's 
fraud department.

So you not only have to be very careful when buying equipment over the 
Internet, but selling it isn't 100% safe either.

73, Dick
--
Dick Flanagan W6OLD NV SM
E-mail: w6old@arrl.org