Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Apparently it is becoming increasingly probable to go to jail when you get a fraudulent check. This could also happen when selling products on Craigslist and eBay (News - Alert). A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle shows that resident Matthew Shinnick tried to sell just a pair of mountain bikes on the Craigslist late last year. He attracted a buyer, got a check in the mail and ended up manacled by police in a downtown Bank of America branch and the jailed for about 12 hours.
Shinnick, it appears, to be the victim of the classic "Nigerian 419" scam, adapted in this case to easy target in unwary Craigslist users.
Typically, the scam involves a fake check being sent by a fraud person as a part of a transaction. The transaction is then subsequently canceled and, before the bank has spotted the check as a fake, the fraudsters requests some or even all of his money back- money, which the victim unknowingly pays out of his own pocket.
Certainly this is a severe case, but this problem can also become increasing annoying to customers selling products online. It will seem that the government and the police should just become more familiar with this sort of problem and not arrest first and ask questions later.
Shinnick, it appears, to be the victim of the classic "Nigerian 419" scam, adapted in this case to easy target in unwary Craigslist users.
Typically, the scam involves a fake check being sent by a fraud person as a part of a transaction. The transaction is then subsequently canceled and, before the bank has spotted the check as a fake, the fraudsters requests some or even all of his money back- money, which the victim unknowingly pays out of his own pocket.
Certainly this is a severe case, but this problem can also become increasing annoying to customers selling products online. It will seem that the government and the police should just become more familiar with this sort of problem and not arrest first and ask questions later.
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