QchexQchex-Diamond Bar Was On Check I deposited a Qchex check just now- is this a rip off? what do I do? FRAUD? Diamond Bar California
PLEASE HELP!!!! I just deposited the check into my bank account for $5700!! The bank teller said it looked fine to her, but my friend suggested I look this company up online. I just did & found these postings! I am near Brunswick Ga Jeannette- please contact me asap! Should I go back to the bank & try to stop deposit or what??? If the check clears to my account- do these people then get my checking account information & do something with it??? I sold two DIAMOND RINGS- but I will not send them until I know whats up! This person keeps emailing me to see if I got the check & wants me to mail the rings now- I won't until I know everything is ok. Please give me some advice!
I just called my bank- I wanted the check back or at least a copy of the check- they said there is nothing they can do- that they already have sent it out! I am sick & terrified about this- I would like to hear from those who have dealt with this Qchex- I am an EBAY SELLER- that is where they saw my auctions for the diamond rings. They have sent me $3000 over what I was asking for the rings. They keep emailing me for the rings & to see if I got the check yet.
I have their email address- and the emails they send are all with spelling errors. They even accidentally sent me an email with someone else's name on it. Then they emailed me to disregard the name on that email. Maybe this name is a CLUE?? I looked up the name on Switchboard.com and called all of the numbers- there are a handful- all of the answering machines sound like foreign accents- I am willing to give out my contact information to those who can help me...how can we be in touch? Please help me!
Jenna
Jekyll Island, Georgia
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Jesse
Crowley,Texas,
U.S.A.
Dont forget the source for the bad check
#9Consumer Suggestion
Tue, March 29, 2005
Ive read your post...(see mine from texas)....youve been scammed or a good attempt to scam you...the REAL problem is QCHEX.com ALLOWING these scammers to use them to send stolen checks... The United States has no clout with Nigeria, they basically told the US to "get out" so getting the scammers will be impossible.... back to qchex.... just read their FAQ page and see how easy it is to send a check, regarless if its your account or someone elses... I currently have the feds looking into this, they made no promises, but their is another solution...public exposure. contact me at security@texaselectricalsupplycompany.com to join my fight..... qchex.com will deny any wrong doing... look into it yourself and see if this is the way check writing should be done...
Patrick
Gilbert,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Nigeria = Scam
#9Consumer Suggestion
Sat, March 26, 2005
Jenna,
You have done good so far. It was interesting to see that the address they wanted you to ship the rings to was in Nigeria. For the most part, anything having to do with Nigeria is a scam, especially if it was done over the internet. I don't know what it is about that place. They must be protected by some strange laws.
Again, don't reply to their emails, just file them away for safe keeping for now. You will probably need to send them with your complaints. Here are the best places to file complaints:
Internet Fraud Complaint Center at the FBI (http://www.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp). There is a link right on this page to file a complaint.
Federal Trade Commission (https://www.econsumer.gov/pls/econsumer/wimsnery2$com.main?p_lang_seq=1). This link will take you directly to the International Complaint Form (since this is from Nigeria).
You can also try the Attorney General's Office for the State of Georgia (www.ganet.gov/ago/), but that only directs you to the links above.
Closing your account and informing the bank of the situation was a good move. I would also suggest you go ahead and put the rings back up for sale. If you use an auction site, make sure you find out where the merchandise is to be shipped before completing the transaction. If it is out of the country, I would not trust it.
Good luck.
Jenna
Jekyll Island,Georgia,
U.S.A.
I followed your advice- I closed checking account!
#9Consumer Comment
Sat, March 26, 2005
I closed my account & informed the bank manager what I suspected. She said if the check comes back bad-we will know in the next 7 days even though it has already cleared in my account. She said the Bank of America will call her actually since it is such a large amount if there is a problem.
It is a PITA to change everything to do with my checking account!! But I know its worth it thanks to all of your advice!!!!
If the check bounces- I will want to report this fraud to all the agencies I can- what is the best way to do this? This person sent me another email today asking what was going on with the check & telling me to send the rings to an African address he provided. This is the last email sent to me this evening:(note the date is a day ahead?)
From: "tunde lukzy" Add to Address BookAdd to Address Book
To: "j p"
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 05:58:33 +0800
Subject: Re: what is going on about the cheque
"hello jp
thank you kindly sip the ring to address provided below as soon as you received the check."
name:tunde lukzy
address:no 11 orile road saakod int
tabon tabon agege,
2341 lagos
nigeria.
i will look forward to hear from you soonest
~~~~~
---I will not respond per your advice- I will save all emails- I will do all I can to help...will let you know what happens too...
Mike
Radford,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Sit tight. So far they haven't cost you anything.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Fri, March 25, 2005
The first response is exactly right. I'm absolutely certain it is a scam. The $3000 over is a dead giveaway. Would you ever trust anyone enough to do that? They just want to use you to convert their phony check to $3000 of real money, they really don't care much about the diamond rings. Also using the wrong name says they're working the same thing on dozens of people. These checks don't cost them anything since there's no money behind them.
It's important now what you DON'T do. Do not send any money or merchandise, and don't spend the money. Leave the full amount in your account. Eventually the banks will bounce the check, removing the money (with perhaps a fee on the order of $30.00) and give you the check back. Especially if there's no fee, it will be a case of "no harm, no foul." Ignore the scammers for now. Once they deduce that you're aware of the fraud, you will not hear from them again.
The problem with the advice to "wait until the check clears" is that banks won't tell you exactly when a check has "cleared" for good. It may be weeks or even months later before these fraud checks come back, and the bank will aggressively collect the money back. If you don't have it, you will lose your bank account, suffer bad credit, and be blacklisted so you can't open another bank account.
Genee
Emerald Hills,California,
U.S.A.
SEND GOODS WHEN CHECK CLEARS
#9Consumer Suggestion
Thu, March 24, 2005
It's that simple.
Unfortunatley though, the check is probably not good and you'll be stuck with the insufficient funds fee from your bank. However, there is a chance, as a one time courtesy, your bank will waive the fee.
Good luck!
Patrick
Gilbert,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Suggestions on what to do.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Thu, March 24, 2005
Jenna,
Unfortunately, these folks are trying to fraud you. Fortunately, you have posted quickly, therefore you should be able to minimize the damage. Here is what you need to do:
1. DO NOT send these people any money for the $3000 they overpaid. The check will eventually come back as fake, and the bank will want their money back from you.
2. DO NOT send them your merchandise, you will not get it back.
3. Call your bank IMMEDIATELY. Tell them that you highly suspect that the check was fake. Explain the situation to them. They may be able to help you.
4. Set aside the $5700 and DO NOT SPEND ANY OF IT. The bank will be asking for it back eventually. Unfortunately, you will probably be charged bad check charges. Make sure you can cover that for now.
5. Save all of the emails they have sent you for evidence.
6. File fraud complaints with as many organizations as possible. The FTC, Postmaster General, GA Attorney General, the Attorney General for their state, the FBI, etc.
If you indeed have not wired them any money, then you are fortunate. Thousands of people have already fallen victim to this scam, only to find out they are out the funds they wired to these people.
Do not reply to any further emails. If they persist, just keep them and don't reply. It may also be wise to go ahead and close the account you deposited the check on just in case. If nothing else, at least move all your funds into a different account for safe keeping.
Good luck to you.
Patrick
Gilbert,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Suggestions on what to do.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Thu, March 24, 2005
Jenna,
Unfortunately, these folks are trying to fraud you. Fortunately, you have posted quickly, therefore you should be able to minimize the damage. Here is what you need to do:
1. DO NOT send these people any money for the $3000 they overpaid. The check will eventually come back as fake, and the bank will want their money back from you.
2. DO NOT send them your merchandise, you will not get it back.
3. Call your bank IMMEDIATELY. Tell them that you highly suspect that the check was fake. Explain the situation to them. They may be able to help you.
4. Set aside the $5700 and DO NOT SPEND ANY OF IT. The bank will be asking for it back eventually. Unfortunately, you will probably be charged bad check charges. Make sure you can cover that for now.
5. Save all of the emails they have sent you for evidence.
6. File fraud complaints with as many organizations as possible. The FTC, Postmaster General, GA Attorney General, the Attorney General for their state, the FBI, etc.
If you indeed have not wired them any money, then you are fortunate. Thousands of people have already fallen victim to this scam, only to find out they are out the funds they wired to these people.
Do not reply to any further emails. If they persist, just keep them and don't reply. It may also be wise to go ahead and close the account you deposited the check on just in case. If nothing else, at least move all your funds into a different account for safe keeping.
Good luck to you.
Patrick
Gilbert,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Suggestions on what to do.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Thu, March 24, 2005
Jenna,
Unfortunately, these folks are trying to fraud you. Fortunately, you have posted quickly, therefore you should be able to minimize the damage. Here is what you need to do:
1. DO NOT send these people any money for the $3000 they overpaid. The check will eventually come back as fake, and the bank will want their money back from you.
2. DO NOT send them your merchandise, you will not get it back.
3. Call your bank IMMEDIATELY. Tell them that you highly suspect that the check was fake. Explain the situation to them. They may be able to help you.
4. Set aside the $5700 and DO NOT SPEND ANY OF IT. The bank will be asking for it back eventually. Unfortunately, you will probably be charged bad check charges. Make sure you can cover that for now.
5. Save all of the emails they have sent you for evidence.
6. File fraud complaints with as many organizations as possible. The FTC, Postmaster General, GA Attorney General, the Attorney General for their state, the FBI, etc.
If you indeed have not wired them any money, then you are fortunate. Thousands of people have already fallen victim to this scam, only to find out they are out the funds they wired to these people.
Do not reply to any further emails. If they persist, just keep them and don't reply. It may also be wise to go ahead and close the account you deposited the check on just in case. If nothing else, at least move all your funds into a different account for safe keeping.
Good luck to you.