I think I’m being scammed. Can I still cash the check?

Question

A lady emailed me about the purse that I have been trying to sell. She told me she would send me a check and then I would send her the purse after I get the check. So I got the check today, and she emailed me and said her husband “accidentally” put more money on it because some of it was supposed to be sent to her daughter. Now I have a check for $4,000 and I was only supposed to get $900. I told her I would cancel the check and she could just send me a new check, but things are getting weird now and all she’s telling me to do is “deposit the check”. So can I just deposit the check and keep all of the money and not get in trouble for it since the check is in my name?

Answer 1

No. The check is probably forged or stolen or illegal to cash or deposit for some other reason; you could go to prison. Even if that doesn't happen, you won't get to keep any of the money, not even the $900.



And I don't "think" you're being scammed. I know you're being scammed.

Answer 2

Oh, yes, this is a scam. No person in their right mind would ask and trust a stranger to cash a check that was issued by accident for 31 hundred dollars extra. Because a normal person would stop payment on the check and issue another one in the correct amount.



This silly story about sending you the wrong amount of money is pure bullshit.



They hope you cash the check and give the difference back to them. Then, they disappear into the wood work, your bank notifies you that the check bounced and therefore, you are out $3100.00 because you will owe that amount to your bank.



Sure you can cash the check, but there will be consequences as it is considered fraud and you could be in trouble for conspiracy because you played your part in the scam by using your checking account .

Answer 3

Just return the check....keep the purse

Answer 4

Don't cash the check. Common sense. She's probably from Nigeria.

Answer 5

It is a scam. The check is either stolen or fake.

If you cash or deposit the check, the bank WILL take back the full amount before they even decide about filing a criminal complaint.

Answer 6

The check is fraudulant and will bounce.

Answer 7

It is 100% a scam. NO, do not cash the check, it is fake. There is no $4000.



Even if it was real, no, you could not just take their money.

Answer 8

No, this is a common scam. Tear it up, you have lost the purse.

Answer 9

It's a common scam. The check will eventually bounce but after you have given this person the extra money or the purse you are selling her. Do NOT send the purse and send her check back to her and ask for a chashier's check for the purse. You will probably never hear from her again

Answer 10

Yes u can babe lokak

Answer 11

It's a scam. They know exactly what they're doing. DO NOT CASH THAT CHECK.

Knowingly taking money that you know isn't rightfully your's makes you a thief.

Answer 12

THIS IS A SCAM. Do not cash the check. Just send it back. You'll have your purse and she'll have her fake check and all will be well.

Answer 13

this is a SCAM!!!

Answer 14

If you've already shipped the purse, you've been had. She has your purse, and you have a worthless check. Never ship something until you've been paid, and do NOT accept checks...especially personal checks.

Answer 15

CAN you cash the check? Yes. Do I guarantee the check is worthless and you are going to lose - minimally - the amount of the check.



In MY State you can take the check and the correspondence to the Police, and they will take the report and, in some cases, do an investigation.

Answer 16

So, your question is, someone that was supposed to send you $900, says they "accidentally" sent you $4000 instead, and telling you to "just go ahead and cash it", and you have to WONDER if that's a scam??



Tip: No one is going to make a mistake of sending you an extra $3100. And if they DID, their response would be "OMG! Don't cash it! Tear it up!" Not "go ahead and deposit it"

Answer 17

I think this is a scam as you suggest; if you deposit it, it is likely to bounce and you will be hit with a bad check fee. If you send her a check for the amount of her "refund" due to being an "over payment" you will likely find out that you are out both the bad check fee and the "over payment" amount, which is really a bad deal for you. Tell her that you will send the check back after you get the proper payment and after the proper payment has cleared your bank. I suspect you will not get another check from her and she will go away. Plan on selling your item to someone else.