Thanks to Debbie, attached below is the full article:
Just wanted to alert you to, what I believe, may be
a different turn on a traditional scam. Yes, through an online dating
site, he started a chat with me, which proceeded to yahoo chatting. We
have/had been chatting for over 7 months ( which I was dupped to begin
with). I always figured the scammers were in a rush to make their kill
and then move on to the next. Oh, by the way, I have worked in the
electronic financial industry for many years, so I do keep on top of
money fraud & checks, etc... So, prior to the holidays, he first
says he wants to take me on vacation-meet him in Hawaii. Of course, I
have responsibilities here (several pets and a house to maintain, and,
I am unemployed-therefore, no income), so I told him i was unable to
go, in addition to being unemployed and having to save my pennies for
my mortgage payments.
Next thing I hear is that he will be coming to
visit me, because he is due 2 weeks vacation from his job as a
satellite engineer/programmer. (Another engineer). So, he tells me he
will be sending me a check, in pounds (he was in England), and to see if
my bank would cash it. Up goes the alarm. I played along, told him I
would check with the bank, which I did. They told me they would have
to send it out somewhere, I guess for conversion. So, he sends me the
check for 4800 pounds. I walk it into my bank, and ask the manager if
she knows anything about internet check fraud or scams, because I
thought that I may have one. She gladly says she would send it to
their fraud detection department, along with my concern of fraud.
Well, don't you know, they tell me it is, in fact a scam.
Meantime, I had told this guy that I would not be
depositing it into my account. That I was having the bank check for
fraud and funds, and if they said it was okay, then I would open an
account for him, for his arrival. Knowing all that information, he
still pursued. He would be here on the 25th; when then check got
clearance, use that money to reserve him a hotel; make reservations for
wherever I wanted to go, yada yada yada...
While the bank is checking all this out (they told
me 7-10 business days), we're chatting every night, and then he tells
me he was in an accident. He was fine, but the person he hit was
hospitalized. He was driving a friends car, no insurance. The victim
is willing to settle for hospital and injuries' fees. So, when the
bank cleared the check, could I please wire $xxx to, and he gives me a
name and address in London, to send it to. He even had the gumption to
find a place near where I live that I could send the transfer from.
When I finally hear from the bank, yes it was
fraud, and no, they wouldn't return the check. So, I relayed the
message to him. I played stupid and suggested that he stop payment on
the check immediately, just in case.
Needless to say, I haven't heard from him since
that last chat, about 4 days ago. However, my bank has the name and
address he gave me, so, hopefully, something can get done by them or
the Feds.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
ps-He even sent me a picture of "himself"