Discussion
Hi can the people in the know tell me how to deal with this please. We run a holiday let and have had an enquiry from a person in canada who wants to use our place for a two week let , he has sent us a cheque for $4400 it should have been $840.( I'm assuming that he will ask for the over payment back then somehow bounce the cheque). Should we bank the cheque and see what happens or bin it?
This reminds me very much of the India based scams where they fool the person to log their screen to a remote site and the scammer moves money between your accounts (as they cannot get the card scanner details) to make it look like you owe them money.Same thing, they pretend to have made a silly error and play on your guilt to pay it back.
They then ask you to send Google gift cards to pay them back.
They then ask you to send Google gift cards to pay them back.
Years old scam, they won’t even be in Canada, the cheque is duff but it can take up to 3 weeks for the banks to tell you, which In itself is a joke, in the meantime you’ve sent them back the difference to rectify their ‘mistake’ Ask yourself who in this day and age sends international cheques instead of making a simple electronic transfer
If it were me I’d bank it, then explain its company policy to bank all cheques that are received, regardless of the amount.
Then explain that transfers and refunds are taking 4 weeks to clear due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
If it miraculously clears then you’ve successfully taken $4k+ off the scammers.
You should then obviously give it back but it might make the 
s think twice about doing it again in the future.
But it will probably bounce.
Then explain that transfers and refunds are taking 4 weeks to clear due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
If it miraculously clears then you’ve successfully taken $4k+ off the scammers.
You should then obviously give it back but it might make the s think twice about doing it again in the future.But it will probably bounce.
Really, are people still falling for this? Not surprised it continues.
Bin cheque. Say it’s been obliterated in the mail. Send IBAN code, and account details and ask for correct payment that way.
If any ifs or buts, delete and remove.
That’s the safest but, look out for any unusual direct debits set up on your account.
Uk has finally got around to matching name of account with account/sort code numbers. It often happens with me-customers must put exactly my account name, no spaces, capitals etc or no pay. Before last year, just account and sort code would suffice, to set up a DD or instant payment.
International payments aren’t as secure, from that point of view.
If theres any hint of cashapp, PayPal, kik or kix? Walk away.
Bin cheque. Say it’s been obliterated in the mail. Send IBAN code, and account details and ask for correct payment that way.
If any ifs or buts, delete and remove.
That’s the safest but, look out for any unusual direct debits set up on your account.
Uk has finally got around to matching name of account with account/sort code numbers. It often happens with me-customers must put exactly my account name, no spaces, capitals etc or no pay. Before last year, just account and sort code would suffice, to set up a DD or instant payment.
International payments aren’t as secure, from that point of view.
If theres any hint of cashapp, PayPal, kik or kix? Walk away.
Tacagni said:
Had email off scammer asking if we have received the cheque , we have decided to waste there time for a while, so what is going to be our reply ? 
Dear Sir/MadamThank-you very much for the cheque which we have received today. Unfortunately due to the current situation we are unable to get to the bank as often as we would like however hopefully we will be able to cash it within the next few days. We will contact you as soon as it is paid in.
Yours
Dear Sir/Madam
Unfortunately we are still unable to get to the bank however hopefully we will be able to cash it within the next few days. We will contact you as soon as it is paid in.
Yours
Rinse and repeat as often as required!!!
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank-you very much for the cheque received a few weeks ago. After finally managing to get to the bank we have just discovered that due to the current situation we are unable to accept cheques due to the banks refusal to deal with them.
We have returned the cheque to you and would be grateful if you could pay us the correct money by bank transfer when you have received the cheque [which they won't, because you haven't posted it!!]
Yours
That should waste a bit of their time - good luck!
martinbiz said:
Years old scam, they won’t even be in Canada, the cheque is duff but it can take up to 3 weeks for the banks to tell you, which In itself is a joke, in the meantime you’ve sent them back the difference to rectify their ‘mistake’ Ask yourself who in this day and age sends international cheques instead of making a simple electronic transfer
Err 'University of Buffalo' New York. Admittedly it is very close to Canada.Ramona said:
Assuming that you have a business bank account, wouldn't you incur various charges from your bank for (1) currency exchange from $ to £ and (2) when the cheque bounces (which it undoubtedly will)?
Not worth the risk - bin it.
Personal account.Not worth the risk - bin it.
The lovely Barclays have just informed the daughter it's a 6 WEEK
turnaround not a quick clear and the pleasure of a minimum £16 or 0.5% to clear them up to about £64 max per cheque Hamshankers
And that's from a multimillion pound organisation rather than a 'fly by night company'
Ham_and_Jam said:
Your really don’t need anyone to tell you to bin it and have no further communication with them.
Nobody‘ accidentally’ sends a cheque for 5 x times the amount.
US Government does it all the time Nobody‘ accidentally’ sends a cheque for 5 x times the amount.
https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/p...
speedyguy said:
martinbiz said:
Years old scam, they won’t even be in Canada, the cheque is duff but it can take up to 3 weeks for the banks to tell you, which In itself is a joke, in the meantime you’ve sent them back the difference to rectify their ‘mistake’ Ask yourself who in this day and age sends international cheques instead of making a simple electronic transfer
Err 'University of Buffalo' New York. Admittedly it is very close to Canada.Ramona said:
Assuming that you have a business bank account, wouldn't you incur various charges from your bank for (1) currency exchange from $ to £ and (2) when the cheque bounces (which it undoubtedly will)?
Not worth the risk - bin it.
Personal account.Not worth the risk - bin it.
The lovely Barclays have just informed the daughter it's a 6 WEEK
turnaround not a quick clear and the pleasure of a minimum £16 or 0.5% to clear them up to about £64 max per cheque Hamshankers
And that's from a multimillion pound organisation rather than a 'fly by night company'
The Mad Monk said:
Don't have anything to do with them.
Do you want people like that in your property?
No.
"People" like this don't exist. It's a scam and the people running it are in the the middle east/asia and are pretending. Do you want people like that in your property?
No.
They have no intention to use the let, just using it as leverage for a scam.
Maybe i'm due a parrot, but it seems the person i've quoted seems serious.
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