Physical Fitness Any Financial Crimes LE reading this?

[TheHorta]

So… any LE (Fed or State/Local) dudes who work this stuff and aren’t doing anything more important…

Dude contacts me a week or so ago. Wants to buy a semi-pricey toy from me. We reach an agreement, he mails me a cashier’s check (image below) for $12,000, which arrived in today’s mail. Something felt “off” almost from the beginning, and as luck would have it, PNC is my bank too.

Check looks plausible, but there are a couple of things also a bit “off” about it. Call bank and after an hour of being bounced around, sho nuff it’s a fraud.

Pretty sure return address is bogus as it goes to a vacant $3 million home in upscale Saddle River, NJ. In straight text comms with scammer right now, so he’s still on the hook.

I’m out nothing but a half day of my time at this point.

But… he used USPS to mail a fraudulent $12K bank check interstate. Small taters and all, but figure there might be someone reading that knows how to put these pieces together, cuz I’m certain I ain’t the only target and there may be humans breathing that are dumber than me.

DM/PM if’n ye be wantin’ to chitchat.

For posterity (personal details redacted):

 

[Jefe's Dope]

You should ship him an empty box.

 

[kenny1773]

Shipping weight on an empty box is dead give away
Ship him a case of your favorite chili

 

[918v]

You should ship him an empty box.

A Chinese knockoff would be more fitting.

 

[kenny1773]

I am not in LE

How to Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service

 

[dirtybores]

I don't do the job anymore, but its pretty straightforward 18 USC 1341. A report would have to be filed where the crime occurred or victim resides. White collar stuff rarely gets picked up below multiple 6 figures, even by small offices (barring special circumstances such as elderly victims or filed alongside other charges). FBI will send you to IC3 or USPIS to an online link for report filing.

 

[TheHorta]

I am not in LE

How to Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service

But you are in Bama… and that’s even better.

 

[bdubmkg]

I don't do the job anymore, but its pretty straightforward 18 USC 1341. A report would have to be filed where the crime occurred or victim resides. White collar stuff rarely gets picked up below multiple 6 figures, even by small offices (barring special circumstances such as elderly victims or filed alongside other charges). FBI will send you to IC3 or USPIS to an online link for report filing.

This. My last job was Financials and worked a lot with postal guys. HSI will also pick this up too. We did a lot of controlled deliveries for dope, gun parts, etc from stuff that was mailed. Local LEO report first, then get the fed boys involved.

 

[Grim's Reapers]

PM Sent

Ditto to the above, however the Federal Trade Commission will disseminate the info to the necessary entities when you file a fraud report on their website. A controlled delivery would have to be set up by Law Enforcement to actually catch the guys receiving the package at the vacant house. This takes a lot of time to organize between multiple agencies/jurisdictions, so generally a particular individual doing these things has to get on LE's radar first, a case built, then the game begins.

 

[Stone111]

Since you handled the check finger prints would be hard to get off of it at this point. Contact him and tell him the envelope got damaged during shipping and the bank wont accept it. When he ships you a new check turn it over to TPTB without handling or opening it and maybe a fingerprint can be gotton off of it. If he or she is in their system they will have a hell of a head start...

 

[roostercogburn98]

Mail him a box of goodies. Then get in your car and drive up there to the delivery address. When dickhead goes to pick up the package, beat the hell out of him. Film it and send to that dude who does all the FAFO commentary videos so we can all watch it.



Wait, that’s pretty crappy advice. Sorry.

 

[7.62willdo]

Mail him a box of goodies. Then get in your car and drive up there to the delivery address. When dickhead goes to pick up the package, beat the hell out of him. Film it and send to that dude who does all the FAFO commentary videos so we can all watch it.



Wait, that’s pretty crappy advice. Sorry.

speaking of crappy I know what I would fill the box with…….

 

[TheHorta]

The return address is fake. The phone is a burner. Names used are fake.

Unless someone was driven, ASGH to this/these guy/guys.

They know if they fly low enough, they’re of no interest. In the aggregate, they could be well into the millions. It has the earmarks of some level of sophistication, but lacks refinement. Lots of small “tells” if you’re modestly awake.

 

[Short-bus]

I guess the interest in charging the culprit comes down to whether his local LEO's are onto him, and are just looking for a more solid case to nail him on.

Nice catch though, glad you didn't get scammed.

Branden

 

[TheHorta]

Still fishing as of 5 minutes ago.

 

[TheHorta]

Lucky me! I’m #1

 

[kenny1773]

in that case you should eat the chili with beans, then take a chili with beans shit into a box and mail it to them.

 

[Skunk]

DirtyWhores, errr @dirtybores is correct. The FBI is going to say to report to IC3.gov and congratulate you for not being gullible.

No agency is likely to investigate as there is not an actual financial loss, though it is passage of a fraudulent financial instrument.

Local agencies will just say to contact the FBI.

Just to have some fun, you could try to get him on the phone. He’s probably got a thick Nigerian accent and a pasty-white-boy name like Chris Smith or Franklin Galli.

 

[TheHorta]

I keep sending him Israeli flag pics, hoping he’s Muslim or a Hamass supporter. Maybe start talking about those “idiotic sand people” and see if I can start a text war.

 

[Short-bus]

We should be permitted to feed scammers, pedo's, and thieves feet first into a wood chipper. I have many opinions on intolerable groups of people, but that will get me moved into the goulag.

Branden

 

[kenny1773]

I keep sending him Israeli flag pics, hoping he’s Muslim or a Hamass supporter. Maybe start talking about those “idiotic sand people” and see if I can start a text war.

I am sure there are some local farmers that would give you a box of pig snouts to mail them (if Muslim)


Did you ask PNC bank if they had a fraud department that would like to investigate?

 

[W54/XM-388]

You didn't even have to take the check to the bank to know it was bogus.

You agreed on $8,400

He sent you $12,000

Bingo it's a scam and a bogus check.

 

[TheHorta]

Yeah… was pretty sure it was a scammer from the git-go, but let it play out. Check is good enough to fake a luddite, but it’s not difficult to tell with just a little critical inspection. The Heat Dot doesn’t work, and there are other things.

All names given are fake.

Return address is vacant house up for sale.

Scammer is going to arrange freight pickup of the generator.

This is their would-be prize:

 

[jmp1]

Yeah… was pretty sure it was a scammer from the git-go, but let it play out. Check is good enough to fake a luddite, but it’s not difficult to tell with just a little critical inspection. The Heat Dot doesn’t work, and there are other things.

All names given are fake.

Return address is vacant house up for sale.

Scammer is going to arrange freight pickup of the generator.

This is their would-be prize:

View attachment 8418087

That generator would fit right in at any of the "farms" here in the emerald triangle. My guess is that part could be true....lol

 

[kenny1773]

That is one sexy generator you have there my friend, I will raise the offer to 2 million 12 thousand
Here is my check
please deposit in your bank
I will send my driver to pick up the generator
He drives an electric F150, this is why we need the generator, can it charge the F150 while we drive?

 

[Jscb1b]

If all names are fake, how do we know that you are the real Horta?

 

[Rio Precision Gunworks]

Pretty much same as above. Haven’t been in the fraud side in over a decade, but as stated it’s tough to take on “small” amounts when you’re bogged down with tons more larger cases.

However, many times an agency/s will have an open investigation into someone or a ring. They will always be looking out for more offenses and amounts to add to the pile.

More than fair chance your scammer is on someone’s radar. So use the links above and report it.

You’ll likely never know if someone used the info unless they need a statement from you. But it definitely won’t hurt and may very well help an open case.

 

[hlee]

Side note. The “little errors” are an important part of the scam. The scammers don’t want to engage with “smart people.” The grammar errors and mis-spellings are often intentional, as they weed out the least likely to get taken by the scam.

And, my bet is the scammer has an Indian or Pakistani accent, and an extended automobile warranty for sale…

 

[GTOJOSH]

I can say, if the amount would have been spot on, I'd have probably tried to deposit it. They did a good job at first glance.

I had verify by Visa call about charges once, and I looked up the place where the purchases were made. I called there, spoke to a lady in billing, and was able to get from her the "shipping address" which was not my address.
I looked up the local PD in the area, told them $9k was ran up on my card and I had an address.
No one at the local Pd wanted anything to do with it- until I told them I had the sky miles, some vacation time, and was pissed enough to visit the address myself.
After a discussion about vigilantism, they agreed they'd look into it. I told them I'd book a trip in a week if I hadn't heard anything.
They followed up, the house had an opd guy who replied to one of those poster board "work from home, earn 6k$/month" signs off the freeway gigs where they'd send him a list of what they wanted, the cards to use, and the prices they found. If he could find it for less, he got to keep the difference. Then, just forward ship it out to all these addresses mostly overseas. They said he was the victim of the scam, and there's hundreds of different ones just in the New Orleans area.

Since then I've actually ordered from the place the guy used my card at- his hard work finding the place for me made it oddly funny when I placed the order since they really were the best deal at the time.

 

[TheHorta]

Just this moment…

 

[Skunk]

Just so you know, we have seen people actually show up in masks, with guns, to retrieve their “purchase.”

 

[imacad]

 

[TheHorta]

Just so you know, we have seen people actually show up in masks, with guns, to retrieve their “purchase.”

Is it weird that I’m actually hoping for this?

 

[TheHorta]

So… latest.

Wants me to wire or send money order. Who’da thunk?

 

[Jscb1b]

Send him a fake check too.

 

[TheHorta]

Send him a fake check too.

But forge it in Crayon. Fargin’ classic!

Definitely gonna do that. Epic idea.

 

[mosin46]

sounds like a "gift card" scam i almost fell for a few years ago. this would be a prime area for MORE LE. would do 1 of 3 things it should ie protect life,liberty and property. not happening as that is not the real goal of our current LE establishment. scam buyers showing up with guns adds a lot of angles to this whole thing.

 

[TheHorta]

 

[Skunk]

Is it weird that I’m actually hoping for this?

I’m not entirely surprised by this.

OK, I’m not at all surprised by this.

 

[TheHorta]

Play-by-play:

 

[jr81452]

Just so you know, we have seen people actually show up in masks, with guns, to retrieve their “purchase.”

God, I hope so. I could use the laugh (as long as Horta is as up for some sport as I believe he is).

 

[TheHorta]

I’m not entirely surprised by this.

Especially at night.

Please come at night. Pretty please!

[Wife will never question another NOD purchase… ever]

 

[TheHorta]

Trying to get a delivery address. Rolling the dice.

 

[W54/XM-388]

It's literally the same scam they have been pulling for 30+ years

They are playing a game of try to beat the clock because they know by day 3 or 4 your bank will be telling you that you just got hosed.

 

[Marinevet1]

Ask if he would accept cash..........send movie money, or Monopoly money..........

 

[olive drab]

Glad you didnt get scammed, but local LE is your best bet, and even then they may not do anything with this. Federal prosecutors are all about building their resume, and since there is no victim here (they love when granny is the victim) no stomach for them to run with this. Postal inspection may take the check and run it to their lab to see if there is a print match to see if it hits anyone else they are tracking. Locals may print this and see if it hits on anyone as pulling prints from paper is the best medium to do so.

 

[TheHorta]

SitRep!

 

[TheHorta]

I’m 2.5 hours from that address. ;-)

 

[Jscb1b]

ROAD TRIP!!!

 

[W54/XM-388]

SitRep!

View attachment 8418755

So if you want to play the game.
Send a package to that address that requires an adult signature
Either USPS Registered Mail or UPS / FedEx with adult signature required.
Doesn't have to be anything inside it of any value.


We did that once for a known scam trying to rip our company off for stuff with stolen credit cards.
The police actually caught up to the person being the mule and contacted us to see if we wanted our stuff back.
The address is most likely a mule, and if you can get LE to hit them up you'll put a kink in probably a huge bunch of Nigerian scam transactions.

Just remember the person in the address above is most likely NOT the scammer.
Most likely they are a greedy & stupid mule.