The check scam strikes Brooklyn

Brooklyn woman thought scammer’s check was legit - she was wrong:
The craigslist check scam strikes again. This time a lovely woman from Brooklyn, NY fell prey to it.

When Miram Choi decided to leave Brooklyn to be with her parents in Kentucky, she decided to sell off some furniture on craigslist.org.

But her ad on the free site caught the attention of a scammer. Instead of selling a bar and cabinet set for $725, she got taken - for more than $3,000.

“I will like to know if the above item is still available for sale and I will like to buy this item so pleas do withdraw the advert from craigslist,” read the first typo-ridden reply Choi got. “I will also like you to know that I will be paying via check.”

There were ample reasons for Choi, a 31-year-old interior designer, to be skeptical, especially since craigslist warns sellers not to trust buyers from out of town trying to pay by check. The only name Choi ever got for the purported buyer was an e-mail name, “Heady Heady.” The check arrived. It was issued from City National Bank of Florida and signed by someone named John Edwards, whom Heady Heady described as his financier. Also, the check was for $3,050, more than four times the price.

Still, she wasn’t foolish enough to turn over the goods until the check cleared.

“He said, ‘Wait until the check clears, then pay whatever’s left to my movers,’ ” Choi recalled.

A week later, the money was credited to her account. Thinking she was in the clear, she sent money to an address the buyer supplied for the movers.

After the money arrived, Heady Heady was back in touch to say he didn’t want the bar and cabinet set after all. Would she kindly wire back most of the original amount?

“He told me to take $135 for my trouble,” said Choi, who was disappointed she’d have to sell the furniture yet again but figured she was still ahead.

Two weeks later, Choi’s bank delivered disturbing news: the $3,050 check was counterfeit - and she was responsible for the full amount.

Remember kids, don’t do business outside of your general area and insist on cash only.

The worst part is that according to the article Ms. Choi never received any interest from a legitimate buyer.

Related Posts

• No Related Post