Is this guy trying to scam me?

Mazeroth

I have my laptop up for sale on a computer forum. There's a guy in Canada that wants to purchase it and says he wants to transfer the money from his bank account to my bank account. He said all he needs is my name, account number, and routing number. Now, I know with that information you should be able to wire transfer money from account to account, but I just don't feel right about this. Couldn't he print out checks with my info and use them fraudulently? I know the person cashing the check should verify ID and all that snaz, but if he puts a fake name on it, one that matches his ID, then as long as he has a valid account number and routing number he should be all set. Hell, now that I think about it, he could use my account on the internet and do a whole bunch of crap with it.

So, should I tell this guy to bite me or what?

Early B.

Ignore him, then report him. It's definitely a scam.

Mazeroth

Alrighty guys, thanks for the input. Time to give this jokester the middle finger.

Polk65

scam.

PolkThug

Setup an empty bank account with your bank. The minute that money is there, close the account.

F1nut

Tell him you want his name, account number, and routing number, so that you can just withdraw the money from his account. Then, tell him to eff off.

1996blackmax

I am with F1nut. What a crock of ****!

Tell him that the postal service works well in both of our countries, just to see what he says.

George Grand

It's not much worse than the guy with the basket case amp over in the Flea Market who wants top dollar and won't ship. The ****'s getting deep here. What's with Canada anyway?

jayman_1975

no insult intended..but we canadians don't lock our doors and aren't scared to death of our neighbors....and we still for the most part take a check from someone we don't know because we trust each other. Maybe that's why he's proposing what he is...just a thought.

1996blackmax

I would not feel comfortable giving that information out.

ohskigod

jayman_1975 wrote:

no insult intended..but we canadians don't lock our doors and aren't scared to death of our neighbors....and we still for the most part take a check from someone we don't know because we trust each other. Maybe that's why he's proposing what he is...just a thought.

no scams at all in Canada?

I'm sure some Canadians lock there doors too.


Maz, dont send that info

F1nut

Jay,

I was on the phone tonight with a forum member who just about got taken to the cleaners by a Canadian selling an amp (doubtful that he actually owns it) that he already sold, but never delivered to someone else. Thankfully that forum member has a good head on him.

There's a fella named Vlad among you too, he makes Scott Trigg look like an angel.

No insult intended, but maybe it's time to lock your doors. As for being scared to death of our neighbors......pffft!!!

Dennis Gardner

The sad thing about Vlad is he has the coolest vintage ****, Jesse........ Some of the stuff he sells is very rare and well cared for until he ships it out in an empty cardboard box with no packing. Worst vintage seller I've come across in along time.

Edit: no i

Polk65

There's the next tv reality show.

Keep your door's unlocked and the lights out then guess which neighbor it is.

F1nut

Dennis, my point exactly!

BTW, no "i" please.:)

Midnite Mick

jayman_1975 wrote:

no insult intended..but we canadians don't lock our doors and aren't scared to death of our neighbors....and we still for the most part take a check from someone we don't know because we trust each other. Maybe that's why he's proposing what he is...just a thought.

I am Canadian and if you lived where I live, believe me, you would be locking your doors. I don't think countries are an issue. I wouldn't give somebody my personal information like that unless they were extremely close to me let alone a total stranger.

Mike

Polkersince85

Oldest scam in the book. He will get your account/routing number and kindly wipe your account out. Avoid at all cost unless your want to be broke.

Willow

Midnite Mick wrote:

I am Canadian and if you lived where I live, believe me, you would be locking your doors. I don't think countries are an issue. I wouldn't give somebody my personal information like that unless they were extremely close to me let alone a total stranger.

Mike

Yeah but you live in the murder capital of Canada..ha for real though we lock our doors heck we even have an alarm.
As for account to account transfers they can be done. I have done them and would do it again but only with somone I know.

brettw22

Crimeny Maz......quit smokin the MJ and you'd be able to CLEARLY see that the guy's out to scam ya.....

George Grand

I wasn't talking about locked doors or stuff like that Jayman. I'm talking about the absurd offer for a derelict amp (in my opinion) that he wants top dollar (in my opinion) for. What a GREAT guy.

I have many good friends north of the border.

McLoki

Mazeroth wrote:

Now, I know with that information you should be able to wire transfer money from account to account, but I just don't feel right about this.

Just trust yourself. If you don't feel right about it - kill the deal. whether he wants to pay off your credit card balances or fly down and pick up the laptop himself and pay you in quarters - if the deal just doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

Good luck to you,

Michael

BobMcG

Mazeroth wrote:

He said all he needs is my name, account number, and routing number.

Yup, and all I need is the same info from Bill Gates.:p

Demiurge

Wire Transfers are not a scam, but this does sound like one. He's not asking for the right information. It's the safest way to do business, but it takes forever. Call your bank if you think it's a scam, and they will tell you how to do a wire transfer. I prefer wire transfer over credit card when dealing with international customers.

Destination: San Francisco State University Foundation, Inc.

Institution/bank: Wells Fargo Bank -- Stonestown Branch

Branch Location: 599 Buckingham Way, San Francisco, CA 94132

Account Number: XXXX-XXXXXX

ABA Number: ****-****-****

shack

Mazeroth wrote:

There's a guy in Canada that wants to purchase it and says he wants to transfer the money from his bank account to my bank account. He said all he needs is my name, account number, and routing number. Now, I know with that information you should be able to wire transfer money from account to account, but I just don't feel right about this.

If you don't feel good about the transaction, that's fine....BUT...you give someone that information EVERY TIME you write a check. (see image below)

Couldn't he print out checks with my info and use them fraudulently? I know the person cashing the check should verify ID and all that snaz, but if he puts a fake name on it, one that matches his ID, then as long as he has a valid account number and routing number he should be all set. Hell, now that I think about it, he could use my account on the internet and do a whole bunch of crap with it.

He could....but you would not be out anything. The banking laws protect you against fraud and forgery. He can't clean you out via the internet or using that info to purchase stuff as long as you can prove you didn't authorize any transactions. It may be a pain in the **** if it is a scam but you will not lose anything by giving out that information and accepting a wire. Again he is not getting any information that's not already on your check. I like getting wires because the minute the funds hit the account, you know they are good funds and they can't be reversed out. Checks can bounce, be a forgery and even cashiers checks can be forgeries and can take time to come back for your loss (the classic Nigerian scam). As I said, if it doesn't feel right, don't do it. The fact he is asking to wire you funds does not not necessarily mean he is scamming. Wiring funds is fast and usually safe. Check with your bank if you decide to do it and have any questions. They can tell you all you need to know.

He said all he needs is my name, account number, and routing number.

janmike

What's wrong with requesting a certified MO. When the MO is good to go, send the merchandise. All he actually needs is a name.

Long distant exchanges are always more difficult. Speaking of that, A guy in Sioux City, IA has quoted me $504 shipping for an Earthquake 5Ch amp. He says UPS is the only method they have there. Is this possible. I live in remote Canada and have multiple shipping methods for large and heavy items.
Anyone live in that area?

F1nut

Michael,

That's BS, he can ship via the USPS as there is one in every town or close enough.

joeparaski

I'm a Canadian and I do lock my doors, although it really wouldn't be necessary in my area. I bought an amplifier from a guy in Saskatchewan and sent him a check for $600. I had a good feeling about the deal just by talking to him on the phone and had no doubt that he'd send the amp.

I also give out my banking info to customers that need to send me money to my business account and have never had any problems. I don't see how they can get money OUT of the account though.

SCompRacer

janmike wrote:

He says UPS is the only method they have there. Is this possible.

Whats the amp weigh? USPS does have a 70 pound weight limit. I've been to Sioux City and it isn't that small, like 85K population and there are other shippers there. Maybe UPS is just convenient for him.

janmike

Crated, that amp is well over 100 lbs.

DollarDave

I lived in Sioux Falls and have been to Sioux City many, many, many times - every carrier is there. For heavan's sake, Gateway was founded there and shipped millions of computers (literally) out of there. I-29 is a trucking corridor and they are not far from I-35, I-90, or I-80. He's trying to hose you.

danger boy

i'd never give out my bank account number or routing number. it's just common sense not to give that kind of inforamation out to anyone.

there must be another way for the payment transaction to take place... other than that.