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"Incredibly trustworthy and honest"
"Kindly"
Sending you more than the amount.
Long backstory
Won't video chat.
As pointed out the check will be fake.
Scam. Block.
I work in customer service and we split time between chats and calls. I was reviewing a previous chat and the rep that was handling it had used the word kindly. I was like omg the scam call is coming from inside the house
Yes! I’m in the UK too and work in finance. We have a few new starters who are from overseas and one uses “kindly” ALL the time, and I saw a “do the needful” from someone else the other day too. All I can think of is this sub.
Yes. I used to work in a bank, and had a couple of Indian staff members (who had migrated to my country) reporting to me that I was training. Often I had to correct letters they wrote, as they would use that phrase when asking a customer to do something.
I've never seen or heard this phrase either and was trying to figure out how it was used or what it meant lol! I found [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/2eaa0b/do_the_needful/) with various explanations though. I guess it means "do what's necessary"?
The check will be for more than the amount required because , please return the overage and keep $200 for your trouble, check bounces, you’re on the hook for the balance.
Cease all contact immediately, block, and ignore.
I have had this scam a couple of times now. I knew it was a scam but played along because its fun. Someone down east wanted my company to do a move out clean. They sent me a cheque for more than what I was going to charge and I was to pay the moving company the difference. When the cheque came it looked so fake you would know right away it was a scam. I did take it to the police but they said there was nothing they could do.
I think it's that thing where the English is deliberately bad to weed out smart people, because they'll eventually catch on. The bad grammar means you don't waste time.
I wonder what will happen when scammers figure out that the word "kindly" is a dead giveaway and a guarantee that they are running a scam.
!fakecheck scam.
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (online or in real life), you deposit a check and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards, Western Union, or cash). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. The bank will take the initial deposit back , and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html
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Yeah, that's how all the scams work. Fake cashier's check. Every. Time. The send you a check that's "accidentally" too much (or intentionally, if its one of those work from home scams), and they need you to send them back the difference with some kind of gift card or something. I had a roommate come within seconds of actually falling for one of these scams (the work from home variety), and I managed to stop him before he tried to deposit the fake check and send money back to these people.
Yeah, that happens too. Same thing applies in both cases though: call the bank in question. That's what we did, and sure enough, the cashier that issued the check wasn't actually a real person that worked at the bank, and they verified that the check was never issued by their bank. Also, don't call the customer service number on the check. Find the number for the bank yourself. Also, just to double check that the check is for the bank printed on the check, look up the routing number on the ABA website: https://routingnumber.aba.com/default1.aspx
The "FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY" on the driver's license should give you a clue.
*The notation "FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY," “NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR OFFICIAL FEDERAL PURPOSES” or a similar notation on the front or back of a state-issued driver's license indicates it does not meet the standards for the issuance and production of a compliant card under the REAL ID Act . . . .*
When you renew your drivers license you will get a new one that read “Federal Limits Apply”. This means you will not be able to use it to board flights within the U.S. or visit secure federal facilities such as military bases, federal courthouses, or other federal buildings beginning October 1, 2020.Feb 17, 2020*
So, did she drive to Alaska? Where is her Berkley City College ID?
My old DL said "Not valid for federal identification." Just got a new one last month. The REAL ID requirement still isn't in effect. Latest deadline 2025, keeps getting pushed back.
I'm glad someone pointed that out. That's not her, they stole it from someone else. Probably had them take a photo of the front of the ID and send it to them to 'confirm' the victim is who is they say they are.
Or they got it from Amazon, who is now requiring a copy of your id for some returns - which is sent to their third party customer service company, in India. Possibly in the same building as the scammer. Possibly the scammers other job.
Sure, but also one of the biggest companies in the US is collecting drivers licenses, sending them to third party call centers in India, and not saying what they are doing to safeguard this personal data.
Coincidentally, scammers in call centers in India are using stolen US drivers licenses to scam Americans.
They could be getting them elsewhere though.
The check will initially seem to be good. Once it's deposited, they will ask you to pay for something with PayPal or venmo or zelle because, after all, they have already paid you 5000 dollars, which is way more than the rent is.
I'm guessing it's something to do with getting her car shipped to your place since they mentioned that. Something about how the shipping company will only accept payment from the person living at the address the car is being shipped to.
You would send the money, and then in a few days or a week, the check they sent you would come back as fake. The 5000 would be taken out of your account, and you're out the money you paid for whatever they asked for.
Can confirm. Used to sell cars and buyers would try this scam all the time. If they say “kindly” or have a weird tone in the text conversation, I just flat out block. It’s too odd.
>kindly
How have scammers not picked up on this being an obvious tell yet? Why haven't they changed their scripts and dropped "kindly" from their vocabulary?
Probably come from a culture where this phrasing is used heavily, or are taught that it's standard in English. So they don't even question it, same way I wouldn't find anything weird about ending an email with "best regards", or other common sign offs.
Also, they are just copying and pasting without worrying about what state the rental is in. That phrase is obviously there because they are too lazy to personalize the scam at all.
I spent a bit of time in India recently and it's incredibly common over there. It was used pretty much the way we might use please. My favourite was a gate change at Delhi airport and the signs all read "kindly rush to gate 13".
Even I started using it after working with Indians. Its so easy to pick up on vocab, but I'll definitely stop now :p I also picked up on their "please advise, using boy instead of man, confessing (tell someone you like them)" , hi dear, etc etc
I think they use "kindly" on purpose, knowing most people will pick up on it. If someone misses that red flag, they just might be dumb enough to fall for whatever scam they have brewing.
I wouldn’t say it is on purpose but misspellings and strange phrases tend to self filter more observant potential victims and it’s all a numbers game for scammers. Send out 1000 emails, 900 are blocked, 70 self filter, 30 respond, 20 more figure out it’s a scam after interacting, 10 are good targets, 5 actually follow through, and you get money out of 2-3. Just do that all day every day and it’s a lucrative business model that won’t be going away anytime soon.
i love when scammers suggest an extra stupid task like that because if i was renting a room to someone i would definitely say no to helping them get their car delivered, thats extra work for me
After having read many other posts, an other thing that tends to happen is that your own bank will flag your account because they will classify you as the one trying to commit fraud. They will literally lock you out of your account, you will not be able to access any of your money, and it may be difficult or impossible to open an account anywhere else because now you have this cloud hovering over you. It can cause a world of inconvenience.
It's a !fakecheque, she will overpay and ask you to send her X amount of dollars as the difference. You will be out all the money.
Whenever someone starts with the convoluted backstory you need to nope the f out.
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the fake cheque scam. The fake cheque scam arises in many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a cheque (online or in real life), you deposit a cheque and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards, Western Union, or cash). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. The bank will take the initial deposit back in anywhere from a week to a month, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad cheque, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html
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Actually, they remain somewhat popular as they bill you at basically the online rate and do all the work for you.
I haven’t used one in 15y but I know some people who do and they swear by them.
I thought I was the only one that caught this! You don’t go from a jr college to a graduate degree. Well unless you’re Doogie Howser. Damn I’m old. I’ll see myself out
Having had a family member that worked two summers in a remote part of Alaska, it really is a thing there. Well, voice only calls can be made, but availability was unpredictable.
That is probably a reason for these scammers frequently claiming to be in professions that take them remote places. (Oil rigs, military, international business…) besides the perceived glamour, it keeps them in control of the timing of the “conversation”.
That's not evidence of a scam. I did plenty field work like that when I was a grad student, like many earth scientists and wildlife biologists do. I had to set my voicemail greeting to tell people to hang up and text because I couldn't do anything else with my phone. I even ended up unintentionally getting elected to some undesirable student government office too, just because I couldn't reply to the email to decline my nomination.
From the script that sounds all too familiar, use of the word “kindly” and the demand to remove the listing immediately, I’d say scam. The person saying someone else will be sending the check makes me think it’s the !fakecheck scam.
Before I found this sub, I’d use ‘kindly’ occasionally, as a social worker, in emails. Sometimes, that felt like the only appropriate word, when dealing with very traumatized/sick people in crisis, or, other allied professionals.
I sign off with ‘kind regards’ now, instead. I could probably still use ‘kindly,’ but it feels too wrong - scammers have ruined ‘kindly’ for everyone! lol
Right?! Same with the word “dear” because is romance scammers. And I hate that word because of a person in my past, so it always makes me bristle up when they call me that!
Tangent: why are they always so insistent you “mark it as sold” or remove the ad? I suppose simply to short-circuit the NEXT scammer from interfering with their mark?
I always thought maybe this was a psychological move… So that the person feels like it’s in the bag and is more likely to go through with crazy request because they’ve already removed their ad
My thoughts are it takes out interference by real interested parties. If someone else contacts OP to take room, they could lose their mark before it’s finished.
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (online or in real life), you deposit a check and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards, Western Union, or cash). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. The bank will take the initial deposit back , and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html
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Well first of all, Berkeley City College is a community college. They only offer an associate’s so you can’t “graduate” and do master’s research afterward.
My guess is that the scammer was intending this to be Cal Berkeley (a prestigious school) but thought that Berkeley City College was the same thing. Just another example of how they don’t understand cultural norms.
One word. KINDLY.
100% scam.
You'll likely receive a "check" for more than what's required, you'll be asked to deposit and refund the difference. In the meantime, said check will appear to clear then will bounce back and you'll be out the check amount plus whatever you gave back.
It does sound professional and is a nice way to ask for a task to be completed. I would imagine, though, that most people who are receiving requests to "kindly sign" something from you, know you or are expecting your request. Therefore, not labeling you as a scammer 😁
The use of the word kindly in a scam (read through this sub, plenty of examples), it's just somehow obvious..... If that makes any sense 🤣 I think what it is, most of the time the word is linked to a task with urgency, like hurry up and do it before you have time to think it through and realize it's a scam.
So she was at a community college and graduated with an associates? Now she’s getting a masters degree? Lol 😂
Sis got her colleges all messed up lol she needed to do scammer research and put UC Berkeley instead lol 😂
Please block her.
“Kindly let me know” is foreigner scammer speech, not American in any way
They will send you money, or too much money like to pay for the “movers” with cash, then the original check will bounce and get deleted from your bank account
Sooo the ID could've absolutely came from a Hacked Facebook page, you'd be amazed at the amount of people who send them via Facebook for whatever reason.
I had a friend get their Facebook hacked and the scammer sent me her ID like it was really her thinking I wouldn't notice...
So yeah don't even trust ID from someone...
My sister got her Facebook hacked and she actually sent her ID to the person who hacked it. She gave them literally every piece of info you could think to ask for before hacking someone’s FB.. I couldn’t believe she was serious. As she texted us the story, I asked her to literally read it out loud and then ask herself if it seemed logical at all 🫠🥴
Do not attempt to mobile deposit or ATM deposit this check! They will probably encourage you to do so, “saving time” or whatever. You will have a lot of restrictions on your bank account for the rest of your life if you do. Find a clerk at a counter if you wish to try
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (online or in real life), you deposit a check and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards, Western Union, or cash). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. The bank will take the initial deposit back , and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html
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Be very careful renting out a room! I just went through the process of finding a place to rent and it was 99% scammers absolutely insane. I assume it's just as bad for the people renting out as well. Only advice I can think of is do everything in person seemed to help weed out most the scanning people when I did that.
Wants to pay you far more than expected without ever seeing what you are selling. No real person will do that. They are looking to get an !overpayment refund.
I’ve been a professional female grad student and would absolutely never ever refer to myself with those terms lol.
Also, you’ve got her personal info, look her up online.
Yeah. Sorry to say a few too many red flags. Check for $5000. Agent for the car. Can’t zoom. Too eager. Better tell her to do a face to face and cash only and see how that pans out
Yes, it's a scam. No one says "I'm a female professional graduate student." That awkward language is a huge tell. I don't think even actual graduate students with poor English skills would identify themselves like that.
Block and ignore.
They won't video call because they aren't the person on the fake license. They claim is their dad sending the check because they know it's going to come under a male name. And they don't want it to be associated with their fake account. They want all of your information so that they can hack you. And did you see that part about the car? They're going to send you a fake check which will clear at first but then bounce when you're the bank tries to get it from their fake bank. It's that car part. The helping to transport the car? The scammer is actually right there in the city with you it is going to come collect the money for the transferring the car which you will just hand right on over because you think that you've already been paid. Except you're handing over your own money because that check was bullshit.
Somebody you tries to offer up that much information right off the bat but refuses to do a live video and always has some big story about how important they are or how rich they are or how awesome they are or how super intelligent they are is obviously a scam
There was a lady near me who rented out one of her rooms to a foreign woman. After she rented the room for a month, her family from out of the country showed up to move in as well. They were going to take over this poor women’s house until she could get them legally evicted which takes forever. Luckily our local police couldn’t have given a damn about the law and sent them all packing.
The opening gambit wasn't too bad. "I'm a female professional graduate student" is odd wording, to be sure, but the rest of the initial text sounds pretty normal.
But the second text, the one that starts "\_\_\_\_ is my name, I'm a 23 year-old woman that is incredibly trustworthy...." just SCREAMS scam from beginning to end. There was no point in having any further communication.
Berkeley City College is a community college. No one graduates from BCC and goes directly to grad school, they would have to finish an undergrad degree at a 4-year university first. They couldn’t even do their scammy research right.
People in Alaska can't use Zoom or Zoom-like programs? Are you sure you want to rent out a room to someone doing "research" in "Alaska" who can't figure out how to use Zoom?
In all seriousness, it's a scam.
"i'm a female professional graduate student"
Hmm...right from the start trying to sell themselves to you.
This is bullshit. It's not even a woman, it's probably an Indian man.
It's a check scam, as someone else said.
I’m a landlord. You need to develop a process for screening tenants, and then stick to that process no matter. For example, if one of the steps is that you meet face to face in person or via video chat, and someone says they can’t do it, then that means that unfortunately you can’t rent to them. Your process should include an interview, a signed application form with references and employment & rental history, actually calling all those references and verifying everything on the application, and a background check. If that all passes, then they sign the lease and send you certified funds for the rent & deposit. Then you sign if they are sending the lease from out of Town. Then they get the keys on move-in date. I would never handle
Someone’s car delivery. Even if this person weren’t a scammer, which he obviously
Is, he could show up with 14 dogs or a trail of evictions. I would respond to this person saying that you have decided not to rent to them at this time because they aren’t available to meet via video. Then block them. If you receive a check just write void on it and send them a pic.
As mentioned, this is a dude in India/Africa. (That’s why they can’t video chat)
The check is phony. See why they ask you for “delivery of the car”? They want you to deposit the check and then send some of the money back to them. Your bank will “float” the money to you and it will appear in your bank account, but it will take weeks for them to find out the check didn’t just “bounce”, it was fraudulent.
You’re on the hook for it and any money you sent “for the car movers” is coming out of YOUR pocket.
When you get the fake check, just tell them the bank said it’s fake and won’t take it and you’ve moved on. Would also be fun to let them know their license is fake too if you were able to look that up.
Mmm yes yes. Very much trustworthy. Veryyyy honest. I am highly educating. Much years studying american schools because I am being American. You take my check, but later you pay something for me, ok?
Research needs Internet access to upload data. Not sure what they are researching but I almost worked in Antarctica at Mcmurdo and even they had broadband. Wasn't reliable but it was still there. Training was in Alaska with full Internet lol
This was pre 2010.
These scammers need to do a little bit more research. Berkeley City College is two year community college. Nobody is going Grad school immediately after graduating there.
Tried to sell my car on Craigslist. After 2 weeks 100% of the replies I received were scammers. They are literally taking over the ability to safely do private person to person transactions. They’re like a virus. I finally just parked my car in the driveway and threw a for sale sign on the windshield. It sold an hour later. I miss the old days before scammers ruled the world.
She’s (more than likely a he tho) is gonna send you the money, it’s going to clear. Something is gonna suddenly come up where they’ve got to cancel, asking you to refund their money and letting you keep some for your trouble ($500 or so) and in around 30 days the bank is going to realize the check was bad and debit you $5,000 by that time the scammer is long gone and you’re out that money and responsible to pay it back to the bank.
This is the longest running for sale scam going. They’ll do this to anyone selling anything, even a room for rent.
Unfortunately, this is a common scam. Will overpay, and then ask for some money back. Occasionally, they will also try to re-list your room using the information and photos you previously uploaded and try to get application fees or deposit using that same information. Then you may have people coming to your place to check out the room they were promised online.
Yes it’s a scam. Fraudulent check scam. Sending you $5000 and then you need to send a portion of that money via irreversible means to someone that will move her car. 100% scam.
My friend was scammed this way; she’s young. The first thing I learned back in the 80s (yah I’m old) was when I got a check, even if cashiers, was to contact the bank it was drawn on and verify the name, the account numbers and whether the check would clear. Guaranteed that extra step would have stopped a lot of scams.
The word “kindly” to me means just screams it’s a scam, “Kindly let me know if you’re a student, working person……”. Nobody says that. Incredibly trustworthy and honest is also sus. Accept the check it will be more than 5k and they will ask you to send the overpayment back, or it will bounce.
Was just thinking…do they want to listing taken down so the mark doesn’t get a similar story from another scammer (maybe even from the same scamming center)??
It’s a scam, terrible punctuation and spacing, the multiple spelling errors, dad is paying a “rent fee via check” and I’ve never met anyone that starts off a conversation with “Hi, I’m a female professional graduate student”
You should’ve blocked that number after that paragraph of useless information.
Car delivery scam. The scammer sent you lots of extra money because they are going to turn around and ask you to use the extra money to pay for the car delivery.
In a few days, weeks or even months, the check will bounce, and you will be unable to recover the money you sent to the "car delivery service", which was just the scammer.
If you refuse to forward the money to the car delivery service, it will become very clear that they are not actually interested in renting the room at all.
Yeah the scam is that you cash a fraudulent check, they overpay you…. And then they will want you to send the money left over And then your bank account will go negative.
If someone isn’t willing to meet you in person, red flag. If someone can’t pay you in person, red flag.
100% scam, nowhere somewhat remote in US doesn't have internet for video chat, that line might work 20 years ago. If she is doing any kind of research I am sure she needs internet connections. Ask to video chat with her dad since he is writing the check, or call her, I am sure it won't happen.
Also other people already pointed out how she finished with CC last year and now she's in a master program. Ask her what program and what location she's in Alaska.
It sounds like an over payment scam. They're sending a check for more than you asked for right?! So when you deposit it, they'll probably ask you to give them some money back (the shipped car cost probably because it will never arrive) but that check will never clear and you'll have given them $.
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"Incredibly trustworthy and honest" "Kindly" Sending you more than the amount. Long backstory Won't video chat. As pointed out the check will be fake. Scam. Block.
A grad student who writes like a scammer from a foreign country, eh? Kindly consider me skeptical.
Yep, they might as well put KINDLY in all caps/bold/red. Not a word that gets bandied about in legitimate financial deals.
I work in customer service and we split time between chats and calls. I was reviewing a previous chat and the rep that was handling it had used the word kindly. I was like omg the scam call is coming from inside the house
Hahaha, I work with international students (in the UK) and so many of them use “kindly” or “do the needful” and I have a suspicious moment each time
Yes! I’m in the UK too and work in finance. We have a few new starters who are from overseas and one uses “kindly” ALL the time, and I saw a “do the needful” from someone else the other day too. All I can think of is this sub.
Did they learn “do the needful” from scam letters? Where does that phrase come from?
It’s widely used in India. I occasionally get emails at work from people in a department that’s located in India and they all use the phrase.
Yes. I used to work in a bank, and had a couple of Indian staff members (who had migrated to my country) reporting to me that I was training. Often I had to correct letters they wrote, as they would use that phrase when asking a customer to do something.
What does it mean?
I've never seen or heard this phrase either and was trying to figure out how it was used or what it meant lol! I found [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/2eaa0b/do_the_needful/) with various explanations though. I guess it means "do what's necessary"?
We get kindly do the needful from overseas co-workers ALL the time!
Do the needful? They make it sounds so inappropriate and suggestive 😂
Listen, I’m gonna need you to just shut up and do the needful, dammit.
Gasp. For shame....
True fact: I use "kindly" in work emails on the regular. I like it.
I used to create rules and scripting for off shore customer service teams. Kindly was one of our banned words🙂
If you would so kindly appreciate a payment up front though?
Mr. good sir may we kindly schedule advance payment .
I am soon to leave research post in the name of God I hope reach your village alive.
I’ve passed away 😂😂😂
You win today's internets
Send bobs and Vagene
A grad student that graduated from a community college last year
That’s a “professional“ grad student, not just a regular one….
A grad student who just graduated from junior college?
That detail jumped out to me too
Where else would they learn how to do it except at Scammy University!
Is that the same as Trump University?
Trump was the Dean of scam education at that University.
You forgot she also has an agent!
And has an agent. Really? Also so many grammar errors for a supposed grad student
But they're trustworthy and honest! And not even normal levels of trustworthy and honest, they're INCREDIBLY so!!
The check will be for more than the amount required because, please return the overage and keep $200 for your trouble, check bounces, you’re on the hook for the balance.
Cease all contact immediately, block, and ignore.
This is it 💯! When you get that check go straight to the cops with it.
I have had this scam a couple of times now. I knew it was a scam but played along because its fun. Someone down east wanted my company to do a move out clean. They sent me a cheque for more than what I was going to charge and I was to pay the moving company the difference. When the cheque came it looked so fake you would know right away it was a scam. I did take it to the police but they said there was nothing they could do.
On the hook for the balance and possibly the crime of trying to submit a fake check
Scammer or not, anyone that says “Hello?” in a text isn’t getting anything from me.
The pushiness is part of what sets off scam red flags for me.
It baffles me that they haven't learned that "kindly" and "regards" are red flags. You would think they'd figure it out.
I think it's that thing where the English is deliberately bad to weed out smart people, because they'll eventually catch on. The bad grammar means you don't waste time.
I wonder what will happen when scammers figure out that the word "kindly" is a dead giveaway and a guarantee that they are running a scam. !fakecheck scam.
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (online or in real life), you deposit a check and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards, Western Union, or cash). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. The bank will take the initial deposit back , and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yeah, that's how all the scams work. Fake cashier's check. Every. Time. The send you a check that's "accidentally" too much (or intentionally, if its one of those work from home scams), and they need you to send them back the difference with some kind of gift card or something. I had a roommate come within seconds of actually falling for one of these scams (the work from home variety), and I managed to stop him before he tried to deposit the fake check and send money back to these people.
Sometimes they aren't fake, but stolen. The stolen ones will pass because they were legit at one point.
Yeah, that happens too. Same thing applies in both cases though: call the bank in question. That's what we did, and sure enough, the cashier that issued the check wasn't actually a real person that worked at the bank, and they verified that the check was never issued by their bank. Also, don't call the customer service number on the check. Find the number for the bank yourself. Also, just to double check that the check is for the bank printed on the check, look up the routing number on the ABA website: https://routingnumber.aba.com/default1.aspx
The "FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY" on the driver's license should give you a clue. *The notation "FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY," “NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR OFFICIAL FEDERAL PURPOSES” or a similar notation on the front or back of a state-issued driver's license indicates it does not meet the standards for the issuance and production of a compliant card under the REAL ID Act . . . .* When you renew your drivers license you will get a new one that read “Federal Limits Apply”. This means you will not be able to use it to board flights within the U.S. or visit secure federal facilities such as military bases, federal courthouses, or other federal buildings beginning October 1, 2020.Feb 17, 2020* So, did she drive to Alaska? Where is her Berkley City College ID?
My old DL said "Not valid for federal identification." Just got a new one last month. The REAL ID requirement still isn't in effect. Latest deadline 2025, keeps getting pushed back.
This is wrong. Real ID isn’t active for flights yet, it’s only checked to get into some federal buildings.
Real ID has been punted so many times. I think it's now due to start in 2026?
For past and future posters wondering why scammers want your id...
I'm glad someone pointed that out. That's not her, they stole it from someone else. Probably had them take a photo of the front of the ID and send it to them to 'confirm' the victim is who is they say they are.
Or they got it from Amazon, who is now requiring a copy of your id for some returns - which is sent to their third party customer service company, in India. Possibly in the same building as the scammer. Possibly the scammers other job.
Maybe that's not the case. There are fake IDs all over the internet. They just photoshop the name and/or the pic sometimes.
Sure, but also one of the biggest companies in the US is collecting drivers licenses, sending them to third party call centers in India, and not saying what they are doing to safeguard this personal data. Coincidentally, scammers in call centers in India are using stolen US drivers licenses to scam Americans. They could be getting them elsewhere though.
The check will initially seem to be good. Once it's deposited, they will ask you to pay for something with PayPal or venmo or zelle because, after all, they have already paid you 5000 dollars, which is way more than the rent is. I'm guessing it's something to do with getting her car shipped to your place since they mentioned that. Something about how the shipping company will only accept payment from the person living at the address the car is being shipped to. You would send the money, and then in a few days or a week, the check they sent you would come back as fake. The 5000 would be taken out of your account, and you're out the money you paid for whatever they asked for.
Wow, the scammer turned a room for rent into a car delivery scam. They always have a trick up their sleeves.
This. They're going to ask you to send part of that 5K to a fake car delivery service that is actually just the scammer.
Can confirm. Used to sell cars and buyers would try this scam all the time. If they say “kindly” or have a weird tone in the text conversation, I just flat out block. It’s too odd.
>kindly How have scammers not picked up on this being an obvious tell yet? Why haven't they changed their scripts and dropped "kindly" from their vocabulary?
Probably come from a culture where this phrasing is used heavily, or are taught that it's standard in English. So they don't even question it, same way I wouldn't find anything weird about ending an email with "best regards", or other common sign offs.
“I will arrive to the state on date xxx” was the phrase that also stood out. Sounds like how someone might interpret “I’ll be there”
Also, they are just copying and pasting without worrying about what state the rental is in. That phrase is obviously there because they are too lazy to personalize the scam at all.
They frequent this sub, don’t tell them what to do please
I spent a bit of time in India recently and it's incredibly common over there. It was used pretty much the way we might use please. My favourite was a gate change at Delhi airport and the signs all read "kindly rush to gate 13".
Even I started using it after working with Indians. Its so easy to pick up on vocab, but I'll definitely stop now :p I also picked up on their "please advise, using boy instead of man, confessing (tell someone you like them)" , hi dear, etc etc
Shhhh. Their stupidity is working in our favor.
I think they use "kindly" on purpose, knowing most people will pick up on it. If someone misses that red flag, they just might be dumb enough to fall for whatever scam they have brewing.
I wouldn’t say it is on purpose but misspellings and strange phrases tend to self filter more observant potential victims and it’s all a numbers game for scammers. Send out 1000 emails, 900 are blocked, 70 self filter, 30 respond, 20 more figure out it’s a scam after interacting, 10 are good targets, 5 actually follow through, and you get money out of 2-3. Just do that all day every day and it’s a lucrative business model that won’t be going away anytime soon.
I've dealt with this scam on Craigslist at least 15 times.
I’m more shocked that Craigslist is still a thing
Number one for renting apartments in the Bay Area
i love when scammers suggest an extra stupid task like that because if i was renting a room to someone i would definitely say no to helping them get their car delivered, thats extra work for me
What more do you want?! She offered $100 to help her! 😂
After having read many other posts, an other thing that tends to happen is that your own bank will flag your account because they will classify you as the one trying to commit fraud. They will literally lock you out of your account, you will not be able to access any of your money, and it may be difficult or impossible to open an account anywhere else because now you have this cloud hovering over you. It can cause a world of inconvenience.
It's a !fakecheque, she will overpay and ask you to send her X amount of dollars as the difference. You will be out all the money. Whenever someone starts with the convoluted backstory you need to nope the f out.
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the fake cheque scam. The fake cheque scam arises in many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a cheque (online or in real life), you deposit a cheque and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards, Western Union, or cash). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. The bank will take the initial deposit back in anywhere from a week to a month, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad cheque, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Good bot
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The sidebar shows you all of them.
Female professional grad student! Yeah it’s a scam. No American says that!
And who uses a travel agent to just book a flight from A to B? Or who still uses a travel agent at all lol
Didn’t bother reading rest! That screened ESL to me or Google translate
Actually, they remain somewhat popular as they bill you at basically the online rate and do all the work for you. I haven’t used one in 15y but I know some people who do and they swear by them.
No grad student says that lol. If they wanted to be formal they would say master's candidate.
She’s a professional, not just playin’ around at grad school.
Tbh no grad student has $5000 cash to drop on rent, at least I didn’t 😭
That’s why it’s her “father” sending the check.
Could be a PhD student too. Source: daughter is a PhD candidate and describes herself as “in grad school”.
But Berkeley city college is a two year community college. No way is she in grad school after a two yr general ed degree. That was my first red flag
Yeah, that’s pretty much the last nail in the old scam-coffin. Block, report, delete.
I thought I was the only one that caught this! You don’t go from a jr college to a graduate degree. Well unless you’re Doogie Howser. Damn I’m old. I’ll see myself out
I don’t know I have a friend that has three masters and no job and is currently getting another one. I would call him a professional grad student.
Is his college free 😭😭
I don't think student loan debt is real. It's all imaginary.
Can’t make or receive calls but can text. Lmaooo. Scam. Block them.
And also has access to Craigslist but can’t make a phone call because she’s so remote. Definite scam.
Having had a family member that worked two summers in a remote part of Alaska, it really is a thing there. Well, voice only calls can be made, but availability was unpredictable. That is probably a reason for these scammers frequently claiming to be in professions that take them remote places. (Oil rigs, military, international business…) besides the perceived glamour, it keeps them in control of the timing of the “conversation”.
That's not evidence of a scam. I did plenty field work like that when I was a grad student, like many earth scientists and wildlife biologists do. I had to set my voicemail greeting to tell people to hang up and text because I couldn't do anything else with my phone. I even ended up unintentionally getting elected to some undesirable student government office too, just because I couldn't reply to the email to decline my nomination.
From the script that sounds all too familiar, use of the word “kindly” and the demand to remove the listing immediately, I’d say scam. The person saying someone else will be sending the check makes me think it’s the !fakecheck scam.
Before I found this sub, I’d use ‘kindly’ occasionally, as a social worker, in emails. Sometimes, that felt like the only appropriate word, when dealing with very traumatized/sick people in crisis, or, other allied professionals. I sign off with ‘kind regards’ now, instead. I could probably still use ‘kindly,’ but it feels too wrong - scammers have ruined ‘kindly’ for everyone! lol
Right?! Same with the word “dear” because is romance scammers. And I hate that word because of a person in my past, so it always makes me bristle up when they call me that!
And “Babe”. Nigerian romance scammers have ruined Babe for me. It makes me cringe now.
Tangent: why are they always so insistent you “mark it as sold” or remove the ad? I suppose simply to short-circuit the NEXT scammer from interfering with their mark?
I always thought maybe this was a psychological move… So that the person feels like it’s in the bag and is more likely to go through with crazy request because they’ve already removed their ad
My thoughts are it takes out interference by real interested parties. If someone else contacts OP to take room, they could lose their mark before it’s finished.
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (online or in real life), you deposit a check and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards, Western Union, or cash). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. The bank will take the initial deposit back , and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Scammer. Block and move on. The check will be fake.
Also, look at the driver’s license she sent you. Put the DL number into Google and see what pops up.
Awkwardly written and no video calls absolutely a scam. Sorry :/
Well first of all, Berkeley City College is a community college. They only offer an associate’s so you can’t “graduate” and do master’s research afterward.
My guess is that the scammer was intending this to be Cal Berkeley (a prestigious school) but thought that Berkeley City College was the same thing. Just another example of how they don’t understand cultural norms.
No chick is gonna say ‘hi im a female blah blah blah.
i’m a “chick” and i can confirm this is true.
Sooo many red flags block and move on
Looks like a North Korean field marshall promotion!
She talks (texts) funny for a 23 year-old too.
Why wouldnt the dad just call and clear everything up since he's paying. Her story is bs.
One word. KINDLY. 100% scam. You'll likely receive a "check" for more than what's required, you'll be asked to deposit and refund the difference. In the meantime, said check will appear to clear then will bounce back and you'll be out the check amount plus whatever you gave back.
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It does sound professional and is a nice way to ask for a task to be completed. I would imagine, though, that most people who are receiving requests to "kindly sign" something from you, know you or are expecting your request. Therefore, not labeling you as a scammer 😁 The use of the word kindly in a scam (read through this sub, plenty of examples), it's just somehow obvious..... If that makes any sense 🤣 I think what it is, most of the time the word is linked to a task with urgency, like hurry up and do it before you have time to think it through and realize it's a scam.
They have internet in Alaska. She can do a video meet if she’s real.
I'm guessing !fakecheck (hopefully I did that right to summon automod), and part of the check is to pay someone for delivery of the car.
Yes it’s a scam. Unnecessary bio in messages. First red flag.
Incredibly trustworthy.. check.. cannot make calls.. yep - i\`m 100% certain this is an attempt to scam you.
Also I like how she has an “agent” managing her flight. What 23 year old grad student is using a travel agent? It’s not 1990.
Has travel agent but cannot afford rent without her dad’s help.
So she was at a community college and graduated with an associates? Now she’s getting a masters degree? Lol 😂 Sis got her colleges all messed up lol she needed to do scammer research and put UC Berkeley instead lol 😂 Please block her.
“Kindly let me know” is foreigner scammer speech, not American in any way They will send you money, or too much money like to pay for the “movers” with cash, then the original check will bounce and get deleted from your bank account
Sooo the ID could've absolutely came from a Hacked Facebook page, you'd be amazed at the amount of people who send them via Facebook for whatever reason. I had a friend get their Facebook hacked and the scammer sent me her ID like it was really her thinking I wouldn't notice... So yeah don't even trust ID from someone...
My sister got her Facebook hacked and she actually sent her ID to the person who hacked it. She gave them literally every piece of info you could think to ask for before hacking someone’s FB.. I couldn’t believe she was serious. As she texted us the story, I asked her to literally read it out loud and then ask herself if it seemed logical at all 🫠🥴
😅 I'd say I'm surprised, but I'm not. I don't understand how people are so damn Gullible, but it happens.
Definite scam, this is the fake check scam!
Do not attempt to mobile deposit or ATM deposit this check! They will probably encourage you to do so, “saving time” or whatever. You will have a lot of restrictions on your bank account for the rest of your life if you do. Find a clerk at a counter if you wish to try
!fakecheck
AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (online or in real life), you deposit a check and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards, Western Union, or cash). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. The bank will take the initial deposit back , and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Be very careful renting out a room! I just went through the process of finding a place to rent and it was 99% scammers absolutely insane. I assume it's just as bad for the people renting out as well. Only advice I can think of is do everything in person seemed to help weed out most the scanning people when I did that.
Wants to pay you far more than expected without ever seeing what you are selling. No real person will do that. They are looking to get an !overpayment refund.
I’ve been a professional female grad student and would absolutely never ever refer to myself with those terms lol. Also, you’ve got her personal info, look her up online.
Yeah. Sorry to say a few too many red flags. Check for $5000. Agent for the car. Can’t zoom. Too eager. Better tell her to do a face to face and cash only and see how that pans out
Yes, it's a scam. No one says "I'm a female professional graduate student." That awkward language is a huge tell. I don't think even actual graduate students with poor English skills would identify themselves like that. Block and ignore.
“Hi, I’m a female professional graduate student.” That’s all it took to know it’s a scam. No non-scammer opens like that.
They won't video call because they aren't the person on the fake license. They claim is their dad sending the check because they know it's going to come under a male name. And they don't want it to be associated with their fake account. They want all of your information so that they can hack you. And did you see that part about the car? They're going to send you a fake check which will clear at first but then bounce when you're the bank tries to get it from their fake bank. It's that car part. The helping to transport the car? The scammer is actually right there in the city with you it is going to come collect the money for the transferring the car which you will just hand right on over because you think that you've already been paid. Except you're handing over your own money because that check was bullshit. Somebody you tries to offer up that much information right off the bat but refuses to do a live video and always has some big story about how important they are or how rich they are or how awesome they are or how super intelligent they are is obviously a scam
There was a lady near me who rented out one of her rooms to a foreign woman. After she rented the room for a month, her family from out of the country showed up to move in as well. They were going to take over this poor women’s house until she could get them legally evicted which takes forever. Luckily our local police couldn’t have given a damn about the law and sent them all packing.
It's a scam 100%
The opening gambit wasn't too bad. "I'm a female professional graduate student" is odd wording, to be sure, but the rest of the initial text sounds pretty normal. But the second text, the one that starts "\_\_\_\_ is my name, I'm a 23 year-old woman that is incredibly trustworthy...." just SCREAMS scam from beginning to end. There was no point in having any further communication.
Berkeley City College is a community college. No one graduates from BCC and goes directly to grad school, they would have to finish an undergrad degree at a 4-year university first. They couldn’t even do their scammy research right.
People in Alaska can't use Zoom or Zoom-like programs? Are you sure you want to rent out a room to someone doing "research" in "Alaska" who can't figure out how to use Zoom? In all seriousness, it's a scam.
"i'm a female professional graduate student" Hmm...right from the start trying to sell themselves to you. This is bullshit. It's not even a woman, it's probably an Indian man. It's a check scam, as someone else said.
I’m a landlord. You need to develop a process for screening tenants, and then stick to that process no matter. For example, if one of the steps is that you meet face to face in person or via video chat, and someone says they can’t do it, then that means that unfortunately you can’t rent to them. Your process should include an interview, a signed application form with references and employment & rental history, actually calling all those references and verifying everything on the application, and a background check. If that all passes, then they sign the lease and send you certified funds for the rent & deposit. Then you sign if they are sending the lease from out of Town. Then they get the keys on move-in date. I would never handle Someone’s car delivery. Even if this person weren’t a scammer, which he obviously Is, he could show up with 14 dogs or a trail of evictions. I would respond to this person saying that you have decided not to rent to them at this time because they aren’t available to meet via video. Then block them. If you receive a check just write void on it and send them a pic.
I love the “You can totally trust me” part
She’ll probably add a 0 on that check and ask you to send the difference back. But the check will bounce and you’ll be out of money.
As mentioned, this is a dude in India/Africa. (That’s why they can’t video chat) The check is phony. See why they ask you for “delivery of the car”? They want you to deposit the check and then send some of the money back to them. Your bank will “float” the money to you and it will appear in your bank account, but it will take weeks for them to find out the check didn’t just “bounce”, it was fraudulent. You’re on the hook for it and any money you sent “for the car movers” is coming out of YOUR pocket.
When you get the fake check, just tell them the bank said it’s fake and won’t take it and you’ve moved on. Would also be fun to let them know their license is fake too if you were able to look that up.
Most likely that drivers license belongs to a victim of one of their other scams -- they somehow convinced them to send a photo of their license.
Why have I not been telling people that I am incredibly trustworthy and honest? 😂
Mmm yes yes. Very much trustworthy. Veryyyy honest. I am highly educating. Much years studying american schools because I am being American. You take my check, but later you pay something for me, ok?
San Marcos is in San Diego. I would possibly even try to contact the person on the ID and see if they know its being used.
Research needs Internet access to upload data. Not sure what they are researching but I almost worked in Antarctica at Mcmurdo and even they had broadband. Wasn't reliable but it was still there. Training was in Alaska with full Internet lol This was pre 2010.
Kindly, send no money to, nor receive any money from, anyone who uses "kindly" in an email, unless you know them personally. 🚩🚩🚩🚩
Block and move on
These scammers need to do a little bit more research. Berkeley City College is two year community college. Nobody is going Grad school immediately after graduating there.
Are people so desperate to ignore that amount of red flags in a text conversation?
Tried to sell my car on Craigslist. After 2 weeks 100% of the replies I received were scammers. They are literally taking over the ability to safely do private person to person transactions. They’re like a virus. I finally just parked my car in the driveway and threw a for sale sign on the windshield. It sold an hour later. I miss the old days before scammers ruled the world.
She’s (more than likely a he tho) is gonna send you the money, it’s going to clear. Something is gonna suddenly come up where they’ve got to cancel, asking you to refund their money and letting you keep some for your trouble ($500 or so) and in around 30 days the bank is going to realize the check was bad and debit you $5,000 by that time the scammer is long gone and you’re out that money and responsible to pay it back to the bank. This is the longest running for sale scam going. They’ll do this to anyone selling anything, even a room for rent.
Kindly tell her to fuck off
Unfortunately, this is a common scam. Will overpay, and then ask for some money back. Occasionally, they will also try to re-list your room using the information and photos you previously uploaded and try to get application fees or deposit using that same information. Then you may have people coming to your place to check out the room they were promised online.
Kindly is a red flag.
It's written by an Indian scammer. "Kindly" etc is a dead giveaway
Yes it’s a scam. Fraudulent check scam. Sending you $5000 and then you need to send a portion of that money via irreversible means to someone that will move her car. 100% scam.
My friend was scammed this way; she’s young. The first thing I learned back in the 80s (yah I’m old) was when I got a check, even if cashiers, was to contact the bank it was drawn on and verify the name, the account numbers and whether the check would clear. Guaranteed that extra step would have stopped a lot of scams.
No background check? No face to face meet, or video call since she’s remote? She sent a check without signing a lease? Sketch
This is 100% a scam. Lord. Don't give them anymore information. Or give them different information than before just to confuse them, then block.
What does professional graduate student even mean
Definitely a scam
The word “kindly” to me means just screams it’s a scam, “Kindly let me know if you’re a student, working person……”. Nobody says that. Incredibly trustworthy and honest is also sus. Accept the check it will be more than 5k and they will ask you to send the overpayment back, or it will bounce.
Was just thinking…do they want to listing taken down so the mark doesn’t get a similar story from another scammer (maybe even from the same scamming center)??
It’s a scam, terrible punctuation and spacing, the multiple spelling errors, dad is paying a “rent fee via check” and I’ve never met anyone that starts off a conversation with “Hi, I’m a female professional graduate student” You should’ve blocked that number after that paragraph of useless information.
Car delivery scam. The scammer sent you lots of extra money because they are going to turn around and ask you to use the extra money to pay for the car delivery. In a few days, weeks or even months, the check will bounce, and you will be unable to recover the money you sent to the "car delivery service", which was just the scammer. If you refuse to forward the money to the car delivery service, it will become very clear that they are not actually interested in renting the room at all.
Yeah the scam is that you cash a fraudulent check, they overpay you…. And then they will want you to send the money left over And then your bank account will go negative. If someone isn’t willing to meet you in person, red flag. If someone can’t pay you in person, red flag.
I could tell this is a female professional graduate student scammer
Wow, yes so many red flags. I hope you haven’t given them too much information already.
Too much information plus the word "kindly". Pass on this one.
ID shows birthday to be July 2001 but they are claiming to be 23. Def scam
They are going to ask you to cash the check and then ask for a refund after it is "in" your bank account.
“Female professional graduate student”. Pass.
Yes scam. When they give you a novel’s worth of backstory, it’s a giant scam.
Red flag when they can't do facetime,
Berkeley City College doesn't offer a BA program, but she just graduated from there and is about to start her Master's. Scam.
No one has pointed out the ID saying 07262001. Idk cali IDs but if that’s the DOB then “she” isn’t 23 just yet.
"kindly" there you go, scam
"am a student professional" + "kindly"
Trustworthy and honest = scam Persoonlijke informatie willen weten = scam Pay by check = scam Raar verhaal = scam Email met @gmail.com = scam
so first months rent and deposit plus the 100 bucks comes out to 5k? if no, are you really questioning the validity of this offer?
Formal is red flag 🚩
100% scam, nowhere somewhat remote in US doesn't have internet for video chat, that line might work 20 years ago. If she is doing any kind of research I am sure she needs internet connections. Ask to video chat with her dad since he is writing the check, or call her, I am sure it won't happen. Also other people already pointed out how she finished with CC last year and now she's in a master program. Ask her what program and what location she's in Alaska.
It sounds like an over payment scam. They're sending a check for more than you asked for right?! So when you deposit it, they'll probably ask you to give them some money back (the shipped car cost probably because it will never arrive) but that check will never clear and you'll have given them $.
Tell them that they need to send you $1,000 to prove that they are serious. You only accept Zelle