Saved co-worker from "I want to buy your car" scam

[CarbonToast]

I have talked to people about scams, banking scams, leaving checks visible, even sending check through the mail.

One problem is they think there is some kind of safety net that can fix it or get the money back. Which, there isn't. The bank is kind of watching, but isn't liable. If you give someone money, there really isn't a way to get it back.

Good on you for pointing out the scam.

I sold my lawn mower for cash. I gave the $100 bills a once over before giving the mower. You never know. Trust but verify.

 

[Nukeman7]

Bet it’s closer to 75% on which it wouldn’t work.

On second thought, you might be right about the general population since these scammers perpetuate.

I was blind in assuming that the average citizen would have the critical thinking skills of the BITOG community, which clearly is not the case (as evidenced by the OP's co-worker who almost fell victim to the con).

 

[02SE]

He had planned on depositing the check at his credit union then telling the buyer tough Turkey and keeping the additional.

So he's really no different than the scammer.

 

[97prizm]

I just want to know how a retired Army Vet, and twenty-year postal delivery worker can afford an Aston Martin Vantage.

 

[HemiBenny]

He had planned on depositing the check at his credit union then telling the buyer tough Turkey and keeping the additional.

He should be very grateful to you for saving his backside.

Thinking this was a legit deal by being ignorant of this scam, he seemed willing to stick it to someone else by saying “tough turkey” and keeping the additional after a price was negotiated.

Sounds like questionable ethics all around.

 

[HemiBenny]

I just want to know how a retired Army Vet, and twenty-year postal delivery worker can afford an Aston Martin Vantage.

Well, people can use their money to make money if they know what they're doing. Sometimes, it's just luck.
There's a guy here in town who worked at a factory all his life, and he died with a ton of money. He seemed to have a knack for playing the market. (Maybe it was luck, IDK)
He seemed to be quite happy with his factory job and lived a simple life. He was never one to "keep up with the Joneses." A good friend of mine was one of his neighbors, and he says that he was one of the nicest, down-to-earth guys you'd ever meet.

 

[jws926]

The over payment scam is big in the event industry, I get them all the time, just got one a few days ago, it came via text from a out of state number, one of the ways it works is they want you to send the over paid amount to another "vendor" .

These are easy to spot once you figure it out as they all use the same script/wording or slight variations.

 

[Japanese]

My coworker negotiated $10k but the check came from a well knownbank for $15k.

What was the name of the bank?
This for sure will help people to avoid future scams.

 

[RooflessVW]

I just want to know how a retired Army Vet, and twenty-year postal delivery worker can afford an Aston Martin Vantage.

Live the dream buddy it ain't that hard.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/97c06d36-1851-4c00-9e16-4e0233ae267c/

 

[RooflessVW]

I just want to know how a retired Army Vet, and twenty-year postal delivery worker can afford an Aston Martin Vantage.

Also, retirement (depending on rank) + VA (depending on rating) could by itself be ~$100k/yr.

 

[Cheetah-kins]

One thing I’ve learned from being involved in IT security is that some people are simply not able to detect scams. They are gullible, accept things at face value, and lack the ability to protect themselves.

You would be surprised. Smart, successful people with no mental illness will, without thinking, act on a text message from the CEO to buy him some gift cards urgently.

They will then do it again. They lack the ability to detect scams and deceit yet function well in other areas of life. Ongoing training will not help. It’s not accurate to call the people (and they are everywhere) stupid. It’s just the way they are.

^This is the best description I've ever read about this phenomenon and I totally agree with it. I've known people who fell for the gift card scam and other 'obvious' flim flams. These were people who did well in school and had successful lives, yet they went and did something so obviously ridiculous it's hard to comprehend anyone would do it. But it happens ALL the time.

Really the only thing you can do is try to watch out for people. It's easy to say 'well if they're that dumb they deserve to lose their money'. But ask yourself, would you really want your sister, or co-worker, or friend, or grandparent or parent to lose their life savings to a scammer because they were 'that dumb'? Of course not. It's some type of blind spot some (okay many) people have in their mind's judgement and problem solving ability.

 

[goblin]

My dad used to go in borderline rage fits when I was trying to warn him about the risks of identity theft.
He abhorred the idea to such an extent that he would argue with me about the very concept of such a thing existing. Basically it was too ugly to exist - so it didn't.

Extreme honesty can make you blind to basic risks. Intelligence has nothing to do with it. It's a mindset.

In another life I was doing my military service and ended up in the brig for owning and hiding an AC/DC t-shirt. During my few days there I met a car thief who had learned how to hotwire cars by watching Walter Hill's "The Driver" 17 times in the theater***.
He was bored, so we played cards. After playing cards, he spent close to an hour showing me how he had cheated in that game. He laid it all out - explaining how he stacked them, how he cut the stack, shuffled them, everything. I still didn't get it. Eventually he gave up. Apparently this was toddler level in his world.

He wasn't smarter than me, I wasn't stupider than him. Our brains just were wired different.

***The destruction of the orange Mercedes in that movie made more men cry in my country than the shooting and miracle cease fire scene at the end of "Children of Men" made cry worldwide.

 

[ctechbob]

At least the overage scam isn't as diabolical as the one that is ripping through law enforcement at the moment.

I take about a call a week (I am 1 of 4 shift supervisors, the other 3 get the same calls) from family members of people in my jail that have been scammed out of money in order to post a bond for their loved ones.

Usually the call comes before the inmate is even fully processed into the facility. As soon as their name hits our software the scammers are able to locate their family members and contact them by phone. Usually taking the money by one of the online payment services.

I have heard at least one of the 'rings' is being run from behind a prison wall. How accurate that is I don't know. I'm not involved with any of the investigating, but I feel truly sorry for these people getting hammered for usually between $1500-3500 and then having to tell them 'sorry, I can't release your grandson or whoever'.

 

[goblin]

And, for anyone who thinks the ones who call are the nasty ones:

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/30/china/kokang-scam-center-china-myanmar-ming-family-intl-hnk

These guys are beaten, tortured and killed.