Some Help With An Odd Situation - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

The_Dunedan · 10-03-2006, 12:05 AM

Dear TFP Financial Gurus,
I'm currently living in Prague as an English teacher. Work is good but pay is slow at the moment, so imagine my happiness and surprise when I recieved an email in response to an advert I placed on Craigslist and Expats.cz. I'd advertized myself as an English teacher, tutor, and proofreader.
The email was from a Dutch gentleman who wants me to tutor his teenage son. He appears to be a man of some means, as he stated that his son's primary tutor would be accompanying him as a Gaurdian.
Here's where things got a little strange. He wants his US-based attourney to send me a Cashier's Check for the tuition. The check, he warns me, will probably exceed our agreed-upon tuition, and he wants me to return any overage to his assistant.
Now, everything I've been able to see checks out. It doesn't seem as if it could be a scam, because he's asked for no detrimental personal information: no bank-account numbers, SSN, nothing; just name, address, and phone-number. I accepted his offer, though I suggested Western Union for the transfer, since Czech banks frequently have issues with foreign banks.

Then things got -really- strange.

I went back to my inbox...and there was another response, to the same advert, requesting essentially the same services. This one was from a Canadien; a Quebecer by the way he typed. Either English is not this guy's first language, or he's just the worst Typist in history. He -also- wanted to pay with a US-issued Cashier's Check. He -also- warned of a possible overage, and requested that I forward any such balance to his travel-insurance agent. This one makes some sense, as Insurance is required to enter the Czech Republic.

This seems just ever-so-slightly too good to be true. However, after having spent the last several days communicating with these two gentlemen, I can find no way that it could be a scam. Neither customer has requested any kind of information which could be used fraudulently; just basic contact info. I'm waiting for replies from them now; if this -is- legitimate, it stands to really save my ass. Can anyone out these see a potential problem with this? It's the time of year when things like this are known to happen, in the English-teaching buisiness; tutor or teacher leaves for one reason or another, and the customer gets stuck desperately searching for a replacement. These two gentlemen both offered to pay in advance; something I would have insisted on to begin with, but which ( again ) makes me wonder just how this could be illegitimate. They, after all, are askin to send -me- money. I could see it being very-small-scale money laundering...but I don't see -why- someone would go to all this trouble to launder less than $1,000.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Shit. Looks like this might be a new Nigerian scam...not to scam -me-, but tp scam the -Bank- at which such a check would be cashed. I'm continuing to investigate, but it looks like that's what this is.

dogzilla · 10-03-2006, 01:51 AM

This sounds like a scam I've read about elsewhere. The check you get is actually no good and bounces after you give the money to the assistant, so you end up losing the money you gave the assistant (the amount the check is over the amount offered to you)

The_Dunedan · 10-03-2006, 03:03 AM

Yup, it's a scam. Over here they call it "The Violin Teacher" setup. The check is an unusually good fake that usually takes the Bank some time to discover; meanwhile, you've sent the cash to whoever-it-is and kept your cut...but the Bank wants all their money back. I briefly entertained the idea of accepting the check, cashing it ( I have no bank account here ) and pocketing all the money; then I realized that I'd probably -still- get nailed for writing a bad check, and the Czech Republic is probably not the place I want to be arrested for kiting bad checks.

I don't exactly have a lot of qualms about ripping off a bank; they -do- create money out of thin air, after all. But I don't feel like spending the next few years in a Czech jail, thankyaverymuch.

vanblah · 10-03-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Dunedan

I don't exactly have a lot of qualms about ripping off a bank; they -do- create money out of thin air, after all. But I don't feel like spending the next few years in a Czech jail, thankyaverymuch.

I wandered in here accidentally and read this statement. Exactly how do banks "create money out of thin air?" Maybe over there they do, but in the U.S. the reason we have such high bank fees is exactly because people "don't care about ripping off large corporations." also insurance also healthcare etc.etc.

I don't like the way a lot of banks (and corps) are run but stealing is not the way to fix it; in fact, it only gives them an excuse to jack up the fees even more.

Sorry for the threadjack.

The_Dunedan · 10-04-2006, 03:59 AM

That's the thing about the Federal Reserve fiat-currency scam; there is no money to begin with. Money has value; the Federal Reserve Dollar is a means of trading on a portion of the U.S. Nat'l Debt, sort of like leveraging a veeeeery small share of a mortgage. When the Fed wants more money, it borrows the credit needed from the various banks which make up the Federal Reserve ( which is neither Federal nor posesses of Reserves of any sort ), print loads of slips of paper corresponding to shares of this new debt, and then "spend" these debt-transfer "dollars" into circulation. It's not a case of stealing an actual asset; there's nothing there to "steal" in the first place exept for a miniscule share of the US Debt. If the dollar were backed by something, as it was 100+ years ago, it would actually be theft since there would be something there to steal in the first place.

Yakk · 10-05-2006, 11:50 AM

The US dollar is based on the ability of the US government to tax the production of US citizens and assets within US territory.

Gold, Gold is just pretty yellow rocks. Well, it makes a good paint and a decent wire.

The ability to tap into the production of the most powerful industrial nation on earth -- now that has value.

As a bonus, it doesn't waste all that effort spent digging rocks out of the ground, then putting the rocks in a fort, and sticking men guarding the castle, either.

macmanmike6100 · 10-05-2006, 09:21 PM

back to the post, it's clearly a scam. even if the check cleared, it could be money laundering. in any case, i think we all agree that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"

Tamerlain · 10-05-2006, 09:33 PM

How is a cashier's cheque different from a regular cheque? I know when I deposit a regular cheque in my account, the money is put on hold until the cheque clears at the other end.

I'm from Canada so I imagine the system is different in the States. Is a cashier's cheque like a certified cheque? I don't know if they exist in the States, but a certified cheque is a cheque issued from the bank the account holder has an account at and basically is a guarantee from the bank that the money is there.

If that is being forged then I've basically answered my own question, but if it's not than an explanation would be appreciated.

-Tamerlain

10-03-2006, 12:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	Some Help With An Odd Situation Dear TFP Financial Gurus, I'm currently living in Prague as an English teacher. Work is good but pay is slow at the moment, so imagine my happiness and surprise when I recieved an email in response to an advert I placed on Craigslist and Expats.cz. I'd advertized myself as an English teacher, tutor, and proofreader. The email was from a Dutch gentleman who wants me to tutor his teenage son. He appears to be a man of some means, as he stated that his son's primary tutor would be accompanying him as a Gaurdian. Here's where things got a little strange. He wants his US-based attourney to send me a Cashier's Check for the tuition. The check, he warns me, will probably exceed our agreed-upon tuition, and he wants me to return any overage to his assistant. Now, everything I've been able to see checks out. It doesn't seem as if it could be a scam, because he's asked for no detrimental personal information: no bank-account numbers, SSN, nothing; just name, address, and phone-number. I accepted his offer, though I suggested Western Union for the transfer, since Czech banks frequently have issues with foreign banks. Then things got -really- strange. I went back to my inbox...and there was another response, to the same advert, requesting essentially the same services. This one was from a Canadien; a Quebecer by the way he typed. Either English is not this guy's first language, or he's just the worst Typist in history. He -also- wanted to pay with a US-issued Cashier's Check. He -also- warned of a possible overage, and requested that I forward any such balance to his travel-insurance agent. This one makes some sense, as Insurance is required to enter the Czech Republic. This seems just ever-so-slightly too good to be true. However, after having spent the last several days communicating with these two gentlemen, I can find no way that it could be a scam. Neither customer has requested any kind of information which could be used fraudulently; just basic contact info. I'm waiting for replies from them now; if this -is- legitimate, it stands to really save my ass. Can anyone out these see a potential problem with this? It's the time of year when things like this are known to happen, in the English-teaching buisiness; tutor or teacher leaves for one reason or another, and the customer gets stuck desperately searching for a replacement. These two gentlemen both offered to pay in advance; something I would have insisted on to begin with, but which ( again ) makes me wonder just how this could be illegitimate. They, after all, are askin to send -me- money. I could see it being very-small-scale money laundering...but I don't see -why- someone would go to all this trouble to launder less than $1,000. Any help would be very much appreciated. Shit. Looks like this might be a new Nigerian scam...not to scam -me-, but tp scam the -Bank- at which such a check would be cashed. I'm continuing to investigate, but it looks like that's what this is. Last edited by The_Dunedan; 10-03-2006 at 12:13 AM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

10-05-2006, 11:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
Yakk Wehret Den Anfängen! Location: Ontario, Canada	The US dollar is based on the ability of the US government to tax the production of US citizens and assets within US territory. Gold, Gold is just pretty yellow rocks. Well, it makes a good paint and a decent wire. The ability to tap into the production of the most powerful industrial nation on earth -- now that has value. As a bonus, it doesn't waste all that effort spent digging rocks out of the ground, then putting the rocks in a fort, and sticking men guarding the castle, either. __________________ Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest.

10-05-2006, 09:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tamerlain Insane Location: Victoria	How is a cashier's cheque different from a regular cheque? I know when I deposit a regular cheque in my account, the money is put on hold until the cheque clears at the other end. I'm from Canada so I imagine the system is different in the States. Is a cashier's cheque like a certified cheque? I don't know if they exist in the States, but a certified cheque is a cheque issued from the bank the account holder has an account at and basically is a guarantee from the bank that the money is there. If that is being forged then I've basically answered my own question, but if it's not than an explanation would be appreciated. -Tamerlain __________________ I never let school interfere with my education.

10-03-2006, 01:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
dogzilla Junkie Location: New York	This sounds like a scam I've read about elsewhere. The check you get is actually no good and bounces after you give the money to the assistant, so you end up losing the money you gave the assistant (the amount the check is over the amount offered to you)

10-03-2006, 03:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	Yup, it's a scam. Over here they call it "The Violin Teacher" setup. The check is an unusually good fake that usually takes the Bank some time to discover; meanwhile, you've sent the cash to whoever-it-is and kept your cut...but the Bank wants all their money back. I briefly entertained the idea of accepting the check, cashing it ( I have no bank account here ) and pocketing all the money; then I realized that I'd probably -still- get nailed for writing a bad check, and the Czech Republic is probably not the place I want to be arrested for kiting bad checks. I don't exactly have a lot of qualms about ripping off a bank; they -do- create money out of thin air, after all. But I don't feel like spending the next few years in a Czech jail, thankyaverymuch.

10-04-2006, 03:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	That's the thing about the Federal Reserve fiat-currency scam; there is no money to begin with. Money has value; the Federal Reserve Dollar is a means of trading on a portion of the U.S. Nat'l Debt, sort of like leveraging a veeeeery small share of a mortgage. When the Fed wants more money, it borrows the credit needed from the various banks which make up the Federal Reserve ( which is neither Federal nor posesses of Reserves of any sort ), print loads of slips of paper corresponding to shares of this new debt, and then "spend" these debt-transfer "dollars" into circulation. It's not a case of stealing an actual asset; there's nothing there to "steal" in the first place exept for a miniscule share of the US Debt. If the dollar were backed by something, as it was 100+ years ago, it would actually be theft since there would be something there to steal in the first place.

10-05-2006, 09:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
macmanmike6100 High Honorary Junkie Location: Tri-state.	back to the post, it's clearly a scam. even if the check cleared, it could be money laundering. in any case, i think we all agree that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"