This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

All right here we go ...I lived in Las Vegas from Apr.2003-Apr. 04
and while living ther I put mt Go-Kart for sale in the Las Vegas Review Journal for 1,500.00 and after a few days I get an e-mail
from some guy in Nigeria who is interested in buying my kart. So we had a couple of back and forth e-mails about the deal and my skepticism. I couldn't believe this [censored]. Basically he would send me a check for 6,000.00 and I was to deduct the go-kart fee from this amount and return the rest by money order or Western Union or whatever. I don't remember the reason for the oversize check(though this is in fact the scam part ). In other words when his check bounced I would lose
4,500. When the deal clears he would send someone to pick up the kart .O. K. sure I said. I didn't for one minute believe I would ever see a check, so I forgot about it. Who wouldn't right. By the way I asked for a phone# to talk to him but I never got a phone#.

Several days later I go and get my mail and sure enough there is a check from some bank for 6,000.00, so I rush down to my bank(BofA) and deposit it. I am told it will take a few days for the check to clear.Ok. 5-6 days later I don't remember I either went to the bank or they called me, I forget which, and said the check had cleared. Fvck I couldn't believe it so I went over to the bank checked that the funds had been credited to my acct. They were there! So I started action for a 4,500.00 money order to send to the address I was given, and during this process one of the banks employees mentioned this"Nigerian" counterfeit check scam. Basically according to this bank employee the check that cleared could in say 30 days turns up counterfeit and my bank could nullify the check. How in the fvck can your bank declare a check good credit your acct. with the funds and then 30 days later declare same check no good and hold you(in this caseMe ) responsible. Who is scamming who here. To me this outright theft by the bank. This is exactly the way it was put to me. I cancelled the money order and went home. Week or so later I get the counterfeit check in the mail and 6,000.00 was removed from my acct. I lost nothing on the deal but don't anybody tell me this is a "Nigerian" scam. What fvcking guy in Nigeria reads the Las Vegas Review Jounal Go-Kart adds looking to scam people. Remember this I made absolutely certain my acct. was credited with the funds. I am not stupid. Comments

P.S. For those of you familiar with Vegas my bank branch was on Maryland Parkway and Tropicana and I lived in a condo on Maryland heading towards Russell Rd. south of Tropicana.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

You actually fell for this? [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
I am not stupid. Comments

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh. Since you're not stupid, no.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
You actually fell for this? [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

IAWTP. Most of us have Nigeria on our real-life ignore list.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

What makes you think this isn't a Nigerian scam. You think Nigerians are dumb enough to try to scam people in Cameroon? Of course they prey on Americans.

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
You actually fell for this? [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
I am not stupid. Comments

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh. Since you're not stupid, no.

[/ QUOTE ] What did i fall for ?

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
What makes you think this isn't a Nigerian scam. You think Nigerians are dumb enough to try to scam people in Cameroon? Of course they prey on Americans.

[/ QUOTE ]

How can my bank declare a check good and then retroactively declare same check no good. What has that got to do with Nigeria?

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
You actually fell for this? [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
I am not stupid. Comments

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh. Since you're not stupid, no.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know who you are Jake but your rude and you apparently didn't read the part where I said i lost nothing. I said I was skeptical but got a check in the mail that my bank cleared...what did I fall for? Please explain your position.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You actually fell for this? [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

IAWTP. Most of us have Nigeria on our real-life ignore list.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't carte what you do on your ignore list. Kid

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You actually fell for this? [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
I am not stupid. Comments

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh. Since you're not stupid, no.

[/ QUOTE ] What did i fall for ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Uh, if it hadn't been for the warning from the bank teller, you would definitely have fallen for it. You owe the bank teller big-time, otherwise you would have fallend for this (obvious) scam.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
2. Hmm cash check close account screw bank.

[/ QUOTE ]

Possible?

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

. Why would you send the 4500 dollars back anyway screw that guy.

Because I made a business deal and agreed to. Is that a good enough reason.
2. Hmm cash check close account screw bank.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well thats the way you do things, not me.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
2. Hmm cash check close account screw bank.

[/ QUOTE ]

Possible?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure, until the bank comes after you to recover the funds.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

Uh, if it hadn't been for the warning from the bank teller, you would definitely have fallen for it. You owe the bank teller big-time, otherwise you would have fallend for this (obvious) scam.

Fallen for what? I get a check in the mail I deposit it and it clears in 7 days. Check was good, what have I fallen for?

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
Uh, if it hadn't been for the warning from the bank teller, you would definitely have fallen for it. You owe the bank teller big-time, otherwise you would have fallend for this (obvious) scam.

Fallen for what? I get a check in the mail I deposit it and it clears in 7 days. Check was good, what have I fallen for?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you can, you really need to remove the "I'm not stupid" statement from your original post.

By the way, why did you put quotation marks around "so called"?

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

Ok, rather than agruing over whether you showed poor judgement in pursuing this transaction let's just skip to the moral of the story for future reference. Do not do business with Nigeria ever. Online solicitations that seem to good to be true usually are. Use common sense.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Uh, if it hadn't been for the warning from the bank teller, you would definitely have fallen for it. You owe the bank teller big-time, otherwise you would have fallend for this (obvious) scam.

Fallen for what? I get a check in the mail I deposit it and it clears in 7 days. Check was good, what have I fallen for?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you can, you really need to remove the "I'm not stupid" statement from your original post.

How dare you..read what I said ,I was skeptical, so in your opinion I should have thrown the check away and fvck it. Why? . I take it to my bank like I do all checks wait for my bank to clear check . What have I got to lose. If it's no good big deal , I go on with life. I don't get you ..what are you trying to say.

By the way, why did you put quotation marks around "so called"?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because i don't think it has anything to do with Nigeria. That's why.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
By the way, why did you put quotation marks around "so called"?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because i don't think it has anything to do with Nigeria. That's why.

[/ QUOTE ]

So why didn't you put the quotes around Nigerian? [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

I just read an article this morning about this. One of the scams involves cruising chat rooms and starting love relationships with people. They pose as American business people on assignment in Nigeria. After a few weeks or months of the relationship and takl of getting together when they get back home, they ask for a "favor". Seems they are being paid with money orders that can only be processed in the states. Some people have lost thousands before they find out. You got very lucky. Send the teller flowers.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
Uh, if it hadn't been for the warning from the bank teller, you would definitely have fallen for it. You owe the bank teller big-time, otherwise you would have fallend for this (obvious) scam.

Fallen for what? I get a check in the mail I deposit it and it clears in 7 days. Check was good, what have I fallen for?

[/ QUOTE ]

You would have fallen for one of the oldest Nigerian scams out there:

1) You get a cheque for $6000. You deposit it in the bank.
2) The cheque "clears" in seven days. All that means is that they've released the funds to you. It doesn't mean that the cheque is not counterfeit. Legally, the bank is required to release funds to you within X days (It's either 7 or 14, I can't remember which). However, if the cheque turns out to be counterfeit, the bank is not on the hook for the money. You are.
3) You send a cheque for $4500 to your Nigerian friend.
4) A little while later the cheque is discovered to be counterfeit. The bank recovers the funds from your account...but oops, you've already sent the $4500 to Nigeria.

These guys are all over E-bay, and are scouring the classifieds looking for suckers. Usually they don't warn you ahead of time that they're going to send you a cheque for more than the value of whatever it is you're selling. Usually the cheque arrives for a larger amount and then they play it off as a mistake but ask you to send them back the difference so that don't have to go through the trouble of sending another cheque.

I've operated quite a few e-shops over the years, and I get these guys trying to pull this stuff on me all the time. I've learned to ignore any "customers" from Africa.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

I read that too. Where was that?

[ QUOTE ]
I just read an article this morning about this. One of the scams involves cruising chat rooms and starting love relationships with people. They pose as American business people on assignment in Nigeria. After a few weeks or months of the relationship and takl of getting together when they get back home, they ask for a "favor". Seems they are being paid with money orders that can only be processed in the states. Some people have lost thousands before they find out. You got very lucky. Send the teller flowers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Uh, if it hadn't been for the warning from the bank teller, you would definitely have fallen for it. You owe the bank teller big-time, otherwise you would have fallend for this (obvious) scam.

Fallen for what? I get a check in the mail I deposit it and it clears in 7 days. Check was good, what have I fallen for?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you can, you really need to remove the "I'm not stupid" statement from your original post.

How dare you..read what I said ,I was skeptical, so in your opinion I should have thrown the check away and fvck it. Why? . I take it to my bank like I do all checks wait for my bank to clear check . What have I got to lose. If it's no good big deal , I go on with life. I don't get you ..what are you trying to say.

By the way, why did you put quotation marks around "so called"?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because i don't think it has anything to do with Nigeria. That's why.

[/ QUOTE ]

Most of these scams originate in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has done very little to stop these scams, partly because it is a huge "industry" for the country, and partly because those in power are either directly or indirectly involved in the scams.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

i hope you are kidding because you can literally read 100's of the same stories on the internet and see how they ended. what will happen is you will send the money order, the check will be found counterfeit, and then you will be on the hook for the money order.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you can, you really need to remove the "I'm not stupid" statement from your original post.

[/ QUOTE ]

On second thought leave that in. It was the best part.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

This is sounds more like a "bank scam" that Nigerians have simply become wise to.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

Most of these scams originate in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has done very little to stop these scams, partly because it is a huge "industry" for the country, and partly because those in power are either directly or indirectly involved in the scams.

[/ QUOTE ]

What scam are you talking about? The only way you can get hurt by this is if you send money"BEFORE" making sure their check has cleared your bank, which I DID NOT DO.

The reason I am skeptical about it being some Nigerian thing is because who(some guy in Nigeria?) is reading for sale ads of the LVRJournal,and trying to scam a guy selling a go-kart. Come on. I guess you can believe that if you want.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
The reason I am skeptical about it being some Nigerian thing is because who(some guy in Nigeria?) is reading for sale ads of the LVRJournal,and trying to scam a guy selling a go-kart. Come on. I guess you can believe that if you want.

[/ QUOTE ]

So are you saying you think this was not a scam?

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The reason I am skeptical about it being some Nigerian thing is because who(some guy in Nigeria?) is reading for sale ads of the LVRJournal,and trying to scam a guy selling a go-kart. Come on. I guess you can believe that if you want.

[/ QUOTE ]

So are you saying you think this was not a scam?

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, right I'm gonna send 4,500.00 to some guy in Nigeria BEFORE his check cleared. If I did that then it would be a scam. How many people do you know would fall for that dude?
I didn't fall for it. You believe guys in Nigeria are reading the LVRJournal go-kart for sale ads looking to scam them. What do you think Jake?

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
Most of these scams originate in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has done very little to stop these scams, partly because it is a huge "industry" for the country, and partly because those in power are either directly or indirectly involved in the scams.

[/ QUOTE ]

What scam are you talking about? The only way you can get hurt by this is if you send money"BEFORE" making sure their check has cleared your bank, which I DID NOT DO.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sigh. Here is your original post:

[ QUOTE ]
Several days later I go and get my mail and sure enough there is a check from some bank for 6,000.00, so I rush down to my bank(BofA) and deposit it. I am told it will take a few days for the check to clear.Ok. 5-6 days later I don't remember I either went to the bank or they called me, I forget which, and said the check had cleared. Fvck I couldn't believe it so I went over to the bank checked that the funds had been credited to my acct. They were there! So I started action for a 4,500.00 money order to send to the address I was given, and during this process one of the banks employees mentioned this"Nigerian" counterfeit check scam.

[/ QUOTE ]

So you had actually STARTED the procedure to send $4500 back to the address you were given. The only reason you didn't complete the procedure was because of the bank teller. *You* fell for the scam, but luckily for you the bank teller saved your ass before it was too late.

Lots of people fall for this scam. The fact that you didn't know that the bank can still recover the funds after the cheque has cleared does not make you stupid. I would suspect that most people don't know this.

[ QUOTE ]
The reason I am skeptical about it being some Nigerian thing is because who(some guy in Nigeria?) is reading for sale ads of the LVRJournal,and trying to scam a guy selling a go-kart. Come on. I guess you can believe that if you want.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're right, this probably has nothing to do with Nigerians. The Nigerians are more into e-commerce these days. The guy scamming you was obviously someone fairly local. It's still the same principle as the Nigerian scam, though. The only difference is that the local guy stands a slightly better chance (though still very small) of getting caught.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The reason I am skeptical about it being some Nigerian thing is because who(some guy in Nigeria?) is reading for sale ads of the LVRJournal,and trying to scam a guy selling a go-kart. Come on. I guess you can believe that if you want.

[/ QUOTE ]

So are you saying you think this was not a scam?

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, right I'm gonna send 4,500.00 to some guy in Nigeria BEFORE his check cleared. If I did that then it would be a scam. How many people do you know would fall for that dude?
I didn't fall for it. You believe guys in Nigeria are reading the LVRJournal go-kart for sale ads looking to scam them. What do you think Jake?

[/ QUOTE ]

Fine, it wasn't a Nigerian guy. The title of your post threw us off originally. However, it's still the same scam, regardless of where it originated.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The reason I am skeptical about it being some Nigerian thing is because who(some guy in Nigeria?) is reading for sale ads of the LVRJournal,and trying to scam a guy selling a go-kart. Come on. I guess you can believe that if you want.

[/ QUOTE ]

So are you saying you think this was not a scam?

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, right I'm gonna send 4,500.00 to some guy in Nigeria BEFORE his check cleared. If I did that then it would be a scam. How many people do you know would fall for that dude?
I didn't fall for it. You believe guys in Nigeria are reading the LVRJournal go-kart for sale ads looking to scam them. What do you think Jake?

[/ QUOTE ]

Fine, it wasn't a Nigerian guy. The title of your post threw us off originally. However, it's still the same scam, regardless of where it originated.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ooooohhhh... The argument is that it isn't a "Nigerian" scam because it wasn't from Nigeria?

Dude, a lot of them aren't necessarily from Nigeria now. People still refer to them as the "Nigeria scam" because they're pretty much the same thing. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

That's exactly what I was saying. It's still the same scam, and it still can be called a "Nigerian scam", regardless of where it is originating from. For some reason I thought the OP mentioned him mailing a cheque to Nigeria, but I re-read it and realized that it didn't say anything about that.

I'm sure Nigerians aren't happy with these scams being named after them, but until they clean up the fraud rings operating freely in their country they don't have a leg to stand on.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

o you had actually STARTED the procedure to send $4500 back to the address you were given. The only reason you didn't complete the procedure was because of the bank teller. *You* fell for the scam, but luckily for you the bank teller saved your ass before it was too late.

I started the procedure after my bank had CLEARED his check. Why wouldn't I? The only reason I cancelled the deal was because according to one of the banks employees the Check could be declared invalid after the fact.How? When was the last time you had a check declared by your bank good and then they tell you later that it's no good? The only thing I don't understand is why that employee mentioned any of this, because once the bank cleared that check they are responsible if something goes wrong later. But I just said heck with it.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Svar på:</font><hr />
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Svar på:</font><hr />
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Svar på:</font><hr />
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Svar på:</font><hr />
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Svar på:</font><hr />
The reason I am skeptical about it being some Nigerian thing is because who(some guy in Nigeria?) is reading for sale ads of the LVRJournal,and trying to scam a guy selling a go-kart. Come on. I guess you can believe that if you want.

[/ QUOTE ]

So are you saying you think this was not a scam?

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, right I'm gonna send 4,500.00 to some guy in Nigeria BEFORE his check cleared. If I did that then it would be a scam. How many people do you know would fall for that dude?
I didn't fall for it. You believe guys in Nigeria are reading the LVRJournal go-kart for sale ads looking to scam them. What do you think Jake?

[/ QUOTE ]

Fine, it wasn't a Nigerian guy. The title of your post threw us off originally. However, it's still the same scam, regardless of where it originated.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ooooohhhh... The argument is that it isn't a "Nigerian" scam because it wasn't from Nigeria?

Dude, a lot of them aren't necessarily from Nigeria now. People still refer to them as the "Nigeria scam" because they're pretty much the same thing. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]


I'm not trying to get in the middle of a highly entertaining argument, but the OP did state:

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Svar på:</font><hr />
after a few days I get an e-mail from some guy in Nigeria

[/ QUOTE ]

unless I am misreading something [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

I worked with a nigerian lady in a bank. She was the manager and thought everyone was trying to scam the bank.

She was also incompetant and shady, so she would just make up lies and refuse to do anything for a customer that would possibly get her into trouble if it was a scam.

Lot of fun working with her.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

I don't know why people are railing on you so hard over this. It seems logical to believe that once a check "clears" that you would have the money and the bank could never get it back from you even if a problem was later discovered.

You had the money in your account. You could have withdrawn it and spent it. Most people would believe that the check was good after it had cleared.

I actually had a class on bank transactions in law school called "Commercial Paper," but I can't remember all the rules. It seems like if you had actually followed through with the transaction (sent the guy the go-kart and $4500), that you would have qualified as what is known as a "holder in due course" (HDC). As a HDC, you would only be subject to certain defenses after the bank paid you. A good lawyer might have been able to keep the bank from recovering the money back from you.

I think the problem is that federal regulations require the bank to pay you within 7 days, whether the bank actually knows that the check has cleared or not. I don't think your bank tried to screw you over, they were just doing what is required by federal law. However, they should probably provide you with notice that foreign checks that "clear" may not actually be good and that the bank might be able to come after you for the money.

Thanks for telling your story. I originally thought that people who fell for these Nigerian scams were just dumb people, but if the bank is telling people that the Nigerian money orders have "cleared" when they really haven't, then I can see how people get duped.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

Lots of people fall for this scam. The fact that you didn't know that the bank can still recover the funds after the cheque has cleared does not make you stupid. I would suspect that most people don't know this.

You're calling outright fraud A"SCAM". This is nothing but theft. What are you talking about? Your own bank can guarantee to you a checks validity , you act on that assurance, and then they can later declare check invalid AND YOUR RESPONSIBLE. Is that what your saying?

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
after a few days I get an e-mail from some guy in Nigeria

[/ QUOTE ]

He could say he was from TIMBUKTU guy so what. It was just an e-mail dude could have been from anywhere.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know why people are railing on you so hard over this. It seems logical to believe that once a check "clears" that you would have the money and the bank could never get it back from you even if a problem was later discovered.

You had the money in your account. You could have withdrawn it and spent it. Most people would believe that the check was good after it had cleared.

I actually had a class on bank transactions in law school called "Commercial Paper," but I can't remember all the rules. It seems like if you had actually followed through with the transaction (sent the guy the go-kart and $4500), that you would have qualified as what is known as a "holder in due course" (HDC). As a HDC, you would only be subject to certain defenses after the bank paid you. A good lawyer might have been able to keep the bank from recovering the money back from you.

I think the problem is that federal regulations require the bank to pay you within 7 days, whether the bank actually knows that the check has cleared or not. I don't think your bank tried to screw you over, they were just doing what is required by federal law. However, they should probably provide you with notice that foreign checks that "clear" may not actually be good and that the bank might be able to come after you for the money.

Thanks for telling your story. I originally thought that people who fell for these Nigerian scams were just dumb people, but if the bank is telling people that the Nigerian money orders have "cleared" when they really haven't, then I can see how people get duped.

[/ QUOTE ]

You can put any legal crapola name they want to this..but it is outright theft.

Otherwise what is yhe point of having a check declared "GOOD" by yuor own bank, Bof A no less?.

But you are correct because I questioned the bank guy and he did mention some legall mumbo jumbo. So I backed out. This is theft, fraud... no way around that.

No, they would have needed a lawyer. This actually happened and i couldn't believe the bank guy could say this with a straight face to me.

Re: This \"so called\" Nigerian stuff
 

You really aren't getting what everyone is saying. The bank is required to release that money into your account after a certain amount of time. They did so. They're not saying "Oh, this check is good, but we're going to make sure again later." This scam is just taking advantage of that fact, and that people don't know how the banks work. Call it whatever you want.