Home > Uncategorized > Anthony Morrison: Scam Alert: Overpayment Scam

Anthony Morrison: Scam Alert: Overpayment Scam

November 24th, 2009 Leave a comment Go to comments

Important scam alert from Anthony Morrison! There is a new kind of scam out there called “overpayment scam”. This type of scam has become one of the biggest types of scam today. The most important thing to remember on how to avoid a scam is to learn how to recognize it.  In the “overpayment scam” someone, usually from overseas, sends you a money order or check for more than the price of something you are selling. In this type of scam the scammer may request you to send you the money back due to a “difficulty” in their side or as “international shipping fees”. The most common objects of this scam are cars, boats, trucks or any king of vehicle.  In this scam, the checks or money orders are fake. This scam works by you sending the money to the scammers and then finding out that the check or money order was fake, also after you shipped the item.  Because the money order or check may look so legitimate the bank might accept them but are not able to clear them in this scam.  Many times in this type of scam, the scam artist may want to put the money in a fake escrow company. This is another variation of this scam. This type of scam may apply to many other items sold. In this type of scam, scam artist can give you a million different reasons why they need the extra money back. There are also other variations of the overpayment scam: now overpayment scams are not only limited to goods. You can be offered a job in another variation on this scam. You can get offers from overpayment scam even if you post your resume in legitimate sites. The biggest difference from the original overpayment scam with the job overpayment scam is that you get offered a position for an international company. Then you are asked to handle payments since the company has “problems” accepting money internationally. Then in this scam, you are offered a percentage to manage those payments but you are requested your personal information. Then the scam turns into an identity theft scam. In another variation of this scam, the scam artist may try to steal money from your personal bank account. In this scam, you may also send them money and them find out the payments made to you were fake.  As a general rule to avoid scams: Never agree to handle financial transactions from any person or companies that you do not know. To avoid scams also do not accept job offers that you have not requested. Another anti-scam advice: never accept money orders not checks where you are asked to send part of the money back. Being informed and having common sense are the best way to prevent being a victim of scam.

  1. No comments yet.
  1. No trackbacks yet.