Fraud offer from GB, How to deal with it?

[Dave Mabry]

I know of people who "collect" those fraudulent checks and hang them on 
their wall.  Let the scammer think you've accepted the deal.  At least 
cost him the money of sending you a check.  Often they send it overnight 
to get it to you quickly so you will send him the difference via Western 
Union or other wire transfer that can't be reversed.

Certainly don't try to put his check through a bank because you will 
incur costs when it bounces.  But then you can have fun when the scammer 
wants to know where his merchandise and his "change" are.  At that point 
mention that you are having the authorities looking into the check and 
you need his phone number to talk to him.  You will never hear from him 
again.  It sounds like fun to me!

Innfosale at aol.com wrote:

> Well I got a classic fraud offer from Great Britian today and was wondering  
> how to deal with it. I would love to see the offeree busted but not  sure what 
> can be done.
>  
> I posted a HP110 outfit on the classifieds of the HP Calculator Museum.  Got  
> a reply of interest from GB so I sent back info and got the following  reply 
> today. I have heard of this scam being perpetrated on computer collectors  in 
> the past so I recognize it as a scam.
>  
> Is there any way of identifying the culprit whose name (may or may not be  
> real) is posted at the end of the letter. I assume this is illegal in GB but how 
>  would you go about informing the authorities? I would be happy to 
> participate in  a sting if that is possible. I am on the west coast of the US.
>  
> Paxton
> Astoria, Oregon
> USA
>  
> Following is the message I got today:
>  
> Hello,
> Thanks a lot for your mail and the information,  also
> for all your efforts towards making this transaction a
> success, i  really love it and wish to buy as soon as
> possible. Anyway, this is how we  are going to seal
> this transaction there is an associate of mine in the
> US  who is owing me $2,500 i am going to instruct him
> to send you a cashier's  check for that amount,and when
> it clears your bank you can now send my  balance by
> Westernunion. Although i know that the value of the
> check is  more than the price of the HP 110 outfit,
> 9114 disk & 2225B Printer but i  am willing to trust
> you with my balance So if this offer is acceptable  to
> you,let me have your contact information so that i can
> instruct my  associate to send you a check,that is your
> name,address and phone number  Please get back to me as
> soon as soon as you get this mail so that i can  know
> your decision regards this transaction. I am banking
> on my balance so  that i will be able to settle my
> shippers here in there local office because  it is
> cheaper and faster.My regards to the family.
> James  Cole
> =====
> James Cole 
> 42-46 James Villa, Woolmer Way 
> Woolmer  Trading Estate 
> Bordon,Hampshire 
> GU35 9QF  UK
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-- 
Dave Mabry             dmabry at mich.com
Dossin Museum Underwater Research Team