Anyone ripped off here? Advise please.

[Sirius Glass]

I know that this is after the fact, but these are the reasons that I avoid eBay and just pay a little more and use KEH. I have been fortunate on APUG and Large Format Photography, but then I only bought from long time members or members with many posts.

 

[Wallendo]

I recently sent payment for a used item in Pennsylvania via the letgo.com website. The seller doesn't have a PayPal account but said he'd accept a personal check. I'm taking the risk because I'm saving at least $100 (approx. 40 percent) from the lowest price I can find anywhere else. Too, since I sent a personal check, if he deposits it in his account, my credit union will back-charge his account if I file a complaint with them. Had I mailed a money order, or if he was able to cash it at my banking institution (he can't because it's a regional credit union), I'd have no recourse that's worth the time to pursue. In this situation, I feel pretty safe.

Do you have online access to your account? If so, I would check your account balance daily.
By sending a check, the other person now has enough information to electronically debit your account. In unscrupulous person could easily cash your check as well as creating multiple debits against your account. If the person closes his account before you realize what has happened, there is no way your bank can take the money back. With some hassle, your credit union may reimburse you for most of the fraudulent charges and it may take you a year or so to clear up your accounts.

I was the victim of identity theft when the adult child of a friend stole a check from our home. Even though we promptly realized the problem and closed the account (and the bank never covered any of the fraudulent checks), I received phone calls demanding payment for over a year, and one redneck "businessman" tried to have me arrested for not covering a fraudulent check (he accepted an out of town check with no ID). I have since learned that these crooks are part of the scam. Even when the account is closed, they will accept the check and try to extort the money from the victims.

Fortunately, most people are honest and you should be OK.

 

[fdonadio]

Fortunately, most people are honest and you should be OK.

Even here in Brazil, where corruption is widespread, I still believe there are more honest people than dishonest ones. It would be much worse if it was the opposite.

At least, I hope so!

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Do you have online access to your account? If so, I would check your account balance daily.
By sending a check, the other person now has enough information to electronically debit your account. In unscrupulous person could easily cash your check as well as creating multiple debits against your account. If the person closes his account before you realize what has happened, there is no way your bank can take the money back. With some hassle, your credit union may reimburse you for most of the fraudulent charges and it may take you a year or so to clear up your accounts.

I was the victim of identity theft when the adult child of a friend stole a check from our home. Even though we promptly realized the problem and closed the account (and the bank never covered any of the fraudulent checks), I received phone calls demanding payment for over a year, and one redneck "businessman" tried to have me arrested for not covering a fraudulent check (he accepted an out of town check with no ID). I have since learned that these crooks are part of the scam. Even when the account is closed, they will accept the check and try to extort the money from the victims.

Fortunately, most people are honest and you should be OK.

I don't think him having my checking account number, name and address gives him full ability to steal my identity. He could print bogus checks, however. If that happens my credit union will fight those charges for me and I'll close that account.

I've only once in my life had someone write bogus checks against my account and that was largely my own fault. I forgot my checkbook on the passenger seat of my old Austin Healey which had no door locks. Within a few days I received a phone call from the one local grocery store we had in the little mountain village I lived in. I immediately went to speak with the manager. He demanded that I cover the bounced checks which he showed me. They were all written for very small purchases plus $100-200 cash. I told him those weren't my signatures. He said I still needed to pay for them. I asked if he could tell from the checks which cashiers accepted the checks. He said, he could. Since I was the only photographer in that little village many people knew me. It turns out all three checks were initialed by the same cashier who was working that day. The store manager and I approached her and she said (very sheepishly), "Hello, Mr. XXX", then glanced briefly at her boss then her gaze went straight to the ground. The manager said, "Never mind, Mr. XXX. I'll take care of this".

 

[Jeff Bradford]

Beware a payment service called Venmo. It provides the ability to make a payment from a mobile phone app. The payer uses the app on their phone to send money to you. Then the Venmo app on your phone alerts you that the payment has been made. A weakness in the system allows the "You have received money" message to be sent before money is actually transferred from the sender's bank, allowing them to withdraw their money from the bank account before Venmo deducts it, thus defaulting on the transaction. We have encountered this scam where I work. Apparently it is happening all around the US. Venmo advises that their service is only to be used "between friends" and "not to pay for goods or services". They don't reimburse defrauded customers.

 

[Wallendo]

I don't think him having my checking account number, name and address gives him full ability to steal my identity. He could print bogus checks, however. If that happens my credit union will fight those charges for me and I'll close that account.

I've only once in my life had someone write bogus checks against my account and that was largely my own fault. I forgot my checkbook on the passenger seat of my old Austin Healey which had no door locks. Within a few days I received a phone call from the one local grocery store we had in the little mountain village I lived in. I immediately went to speak with the manager. He demanded that I cover the bounced checks which he showed me. They were all written for very small purchases plus $100-200 cash. I told him those weren't my signatures. He said I still needed to pay for them. I asked if he could tell from the checks which cashiers accepted the checks. He said, he could. Since I was the only photographer in that little village many people knew me. It turns out all three checks were initialed by the same cashier who was working that day. The store manager and I approached her and she said (very sheepishly), "Hello, Mr. XXX", then glanced briefly at her boss then her gaze went straight to the ground. The manager said, "Never mind, Mr. XXX. I'll take care of this".

Fortunately you dealt with a fairly honest businessman. I have learned from personal experience that there are "networks" involved with the stolen check racket. There are businesses which knowingly accept stolen checks at less than face value with the intention of extorting the money from victims. They will charge the victims for the face value of the check plus collection expenses and threaten prosecution. In South Carolina, for example, they can have you arrested (and there's not much the sheriff can do to avoid it). Many victims in these cases are scared when the sheriff sends a letter that they are about to be arrested and they pay off the thieves to avoid legal hassles. In may case, I had a lawyer friend make a phone call and the incident went away.

Nowadays, thieves don't actually need to steal checks. If they have the information printed on your checks, they can make unlimited copies.

I seriously doubt you are at risk as you presumably have the name and address of the person to whom you mailed the check.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Fortunately you dealt with a fairly honest businessman. I have learned from personal experience that there are "networks" involved with the stolen check racket. There are businesses which knowingly accept stolen checks at less than face value with the intention of extorting the money from victims. They will charge the victims for the face value of the check plus collection expenses and threaten prosecution. In South Carolina, for example, they can have you arrested (and there's not much the sheriff can do to avoid it). Many victims in these cases are scared when the sheriff sends a letter that they are about to be arrested and they pay off the thieves to avoid legal hassles. In may case, I had a lawyer friend make a phone call and the incident went away.

(1) Nowadays, thieves don't actually need to steal checks. If they have the information printed on your checks, they can make unlimited copies.

(2) I seriously doubt you are at risk as you presumably have the name and address of the person to whom you mailed the check.

(1) Yes, that has always been correct.

(2) Yes, my thoughts, precisely.

 

[RichardJack]

I had the name and address of the person I mailed the MO to and looked them up on the web. The name matched the address, I saw the home on Google maps, saw a picture of the person and their phone number. Later on when I called the number I found it was disconnected, someone else was stealing the person's ID and mail. I gave a bundle of information to the police (of that town), and the postal inspectors. Someone is on camera cashing the MO (had a bank name, clerk ID, date and time). Apparently this is not a serious enough crime.

Old & Feeble....did you get your item? Have you emailed them?
Richard (aka Rick)

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Rick, the check hasn't yet been debited from my bank account.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Rick, the seller informed me tonight my check arrived there. Now, I just need to wait for it to clear his bank so he can ship the item.

 

[RichardJack]

Hi,
That's great news, it sounds legitimate to me. Hope you get it soon and enjoy it.
regards,
Rick

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

It ain't over yet, Rick. I've yet to receive the item and I've yet to inspect it for function.