Please help me with a financial question?

buddhabelly

I realize this isn't baby related, but I need some advice.  My dh is a golf pro at a course in the Midwest.  He does golf lessons as part of his job.  A gentleman contacted him through email asking to give him lessons for eight weeks for a total of $800.  We were excited about that because we want to buy a swingset.  The guy told dh he'd mail him the check first.  He said he was coming in from out of town.

 Well, dh gets the check yesterday and it's for $1900.  Of course, it was a mistake, so dh emailed him.  The guy asks dh to go cash the check and mail him a money order in the amount of the difference.  ($1,100)  The address is from South Africa.  He also wants the sender name, sender address, MTCN #, and the test question and answer.  (Whatever that means.)

 Anyway, I told dh that the whole thing sounds a little sketchy.  I told him to ask the guy to send another check and tear up the one he sent.  The guy said that would take too long and gave him a list of certain banks he should go to for the money transfer.

Don't get me wrong, $800 is a nice little bonus right now and I don't want dh to make the guy mad, but I also want to protect ourselves.  If we send him an $1,100 money order and his check bounces, aren't we getting ripped off?  Thank you!!!!

CTri17

don't do it! It is a big big big scam.

If you don't cash the check no harm no foul

hersheykiss

That sounds like a scam. There have been scams like that in the past, especially ones from South Africa and it turns out that the checks are fraudulent and you are out the money you give the person. It sounds like they want access to your bank account.

NewFamily09

 That sounds extremely sketchy.  If your DH writes him a check for the difference, he could get a hold of your bank info.  I would insist that the guy cancel the first check and write a second, correct one.  Who makes an $1100 error on a check, anyway?  If he refuses to write a new check, I would just not do the lessons.  You'll find the money you need some other way.  Not worth the risk, IMO.

nillian10

that's one big scam. don't do anything but shred the check & have NO FURTHER contact with the guy.

My_Kid_is_RAD!

I definately would not do it!!!! Either return the check or tear it up and request the corrected amount.  Sounds like a scam and you have to protect your family!!!

shoeboxx

This is the biggest oldest scam in the books!  Never ever ever do anything like that!  I believe this is called check kiting! 

NOVAMommy5

Complete scam. Get rid of the check. Do NOT send this guy any money. They have preyed on a lot of people, and I'm always seeing these stories in the news.

slmcronelaw

nillian10:

that's one big scam. don't do anything but shred the check & have NO FURTHER contact with the guy.

Totally!!

BlondeBarbie419

NO, NO, NO, it's a scam. I work at a credit union and see this all the time, unfortunatley. Never, ever cash a check when you don't know who it's from and then send money back.

BritClen

DONT DO IT!!

this happened to someone I know and it was a scam!!!

I would contact the police 

NCMichelle

SCAM!  Give copies of the email/phone records/communication and the check to the police.

ESD_0707

Definitely a scam!  I had almost the same thing happen to me when I tried to sell a twin bed on CL.  Don't fall for it!  You'll be out the money and never hear from him again!

JLG95

NO, don't do it!  Classic check scam.

Read me:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_fraud#Check_cashing

4realyo

its a very common scam. rip up the check (dont cash it) and ignore the guy.

madhatter2003

Very common scam. Don't do it, you will be out the money.

Mrs.S-S

OP - I REALLY hope you came back and read all of these responses. This is a HUGE SCAM. There is no "bonus" and you aren't going to make "anyone mad" the guy is NOT coming to your DH to get any lessons. TEAR UP THE CHECK or give it to the police. Do not cash it or contact this guy any further. Period. In no way will you get 1$ out of this - you will get completely ripped off.

Temp36641187503164

Definitely a scam. Farrah from Teen Mom actually fell victim to it and it was on last season.

vmm0016

Total scam!

kimberleigh30

It's a scam!  Don't do it!  Just watch the news

manda16

scam!!! I've read about a situation just like this but a little different. tear the check up !

SeaStar430

I'm really shocked that you haven't heard this one before.  It's one of the oldest, most popular scams out there.

gumiberg

please reply and let us know that you shredded that check.

MJ317

Please don't do this, there have been shows about this. It's a scam!

mmsall

I hope you've taken everyone's advice and are shredding that check!!!!! DO NOT CASH, DEPOSIT, NOTHING!!! Get rid of it and have noooooooo further contact. You've been scammed!

gardenandread

This is a big scam...happened to my friend.  They try to get you through the bank fees.