Here’s the latest caution from Consumer Reports addressed to landlords trying to rent their apartments. It appears that one landlord was getting an e-mail response from someone who claimed to be living in London. The London dude was interested in the apartment listing, and would like to send a cashier check for $6,000 that his employer gave him for relocation with the following breakdown: $3,500 for deposit of the apartment and $2,500 for his travel expenses.
The dude then sent the $6,000 cashier check to the landlord and requested that she sent the $2,500 back so that he could move immediately. Lucky for the landlord. She deposited the $6,000 check, but did not send the $2,500 back. A week later, she was notified by the bank that the check was “item returned counterfeit”.
Although most of these scam artists claim to be from the U.K., you have to be cautious all the time whenever someone would like send you a cashier’s check and request you to send part of the money back to him/her. Just contact your local FBI office found at www.fbi.gov
i almost fell into this scam. one guy had sent me a check that i have yet to deposit. fortunately i googled it first as i felt weird receiving a check that i have to sent partially back.