The scam works as follows:
1. A con man contacts you and agrees to a price for your entertainment services.
2. The con man sends a check for significantly more than the agreed amount.
3. The con man requests that you wire the overage to them.
4. Later, you discover that the check is no good. You’re left holding the bag.
Lyndel (Tim Scarbrough) provides the following timeline of events.
March 31, 2005 - I received an internet inquiry from someone named “Mark Craig.” The e-mail, however, came from steven_Pale@yahoo.com. The person located my business on the internet and was inquiring about entertainment services for an event in New Orleans, LA on May 14, 2005.
March 31, 2005 - I responded via e-mail to Mr. Craig that I was available and that my rate would be $2,500.00 payable in advance.
March 31, 2005 - I received another e-mail requesting my name and mailing address so that a check could be sent.
March 31, 2005 - I e-mailed the person my name and mailing address.
April 1, 2005 - I received an e-mail from the subject stating that the check was being sent right away and to notify him when it arrives.
April 1, 2005 - I e-mailed him back and told him that I would let him know when I received it.
April 7, 2005 - I receive another e-mail from him in which he states that his name is “Stephen Pale” (notice the spelling variation in the e-mail address) and that his former e-mail address of steven_pale@yahoo.com was unavailable and that future correspondence should be sent to him at steven_pale07@yahoo.com
April 9, 2005 - I receive another e-mail from the subject informing me that the check has been sent to me and that the amount had mistakenly been cut for $6,000.00. He requested that the overage of $3,500.00 be returned to him via Western Union.
April 9, 2005 - I respond to his e-mail that this is an unacceptable arrangement and offered to send the check back to him so that a new check for the proper amount could be cut. I also mentioned that under the advice of my entertainment attorney, that this arrangement was not acceptable due to an internet scam in which the perpetrator sent an overage payment and requested the excess be sent to him via Western Union. ( I actually never contacted an entertainment attorney, however, I found the scam spelled out at www.hoax-slayer.com under the heading “Overpayment Cheque Scam.”)
April 10, 2005 - The guy doesn’t give up. He sends me another e-mail apologizing for the inconvenience and tells me to keep an additional $200.00 for myself for all the trouble. I did not respond to this e-mail.
April 10, 2005 - I file a complaint online with the Federal Communications Commission online regarding the incident. (complaint #105041008356689)
April 22, 2005 - Again I receive an e-mail from the individual inquiring if I had received the check. I did not respond to this e-mail.
