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where to report email fraud?

  • 27-10-2010 2:12pm
    #1
    the corpo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭


    apologies if this is the wrong forum

    narrowly managed to prevent my mum getting ripped off in an email fraud. she's looking to rent out a room, got a prospective tenant off gumtree from abroad, was posted a cheque which, surprise surprise, was made out for far too large an amount. the fraudster asked her to cash the cheque, keep the deposit and send back the overpay, of several thousand euro.

    the bank teller suspected it was fraud and wouldn't cash the cheque, but didn't advise on what should be done next.

    can anyone advise if there's anywhere to report this? garda fraud squad? or anywhere more specific.

    despite my insistence, having read the correspondence between them, that is a definite scam, my mum is half worried that if there's any chance it's legit she'll get into trouble for holding on to the cheque.


Comments

  • #2
    ABajaninCork
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    Sounds like a call to the Gards might be in order...


  • #3
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Yep, contact the Gardai with all of the information and hand over the cheque if necessary.

    She cannot get into trouble for holding onto the cheque without cashing it. It is effectively a "promise" to pay which has no deadline on it. He overpaid for his deposit, strictly speaking she would be entitled to cash the cheque and hold onto the excess, if the cheque was legit.


  • #4
    MagicSean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,897 ✭✭✭MagicSean


    There is little that can be done to trace the fraudster as he could be anywhere in the world.


  • #5
    Croc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 341 ✭✭Croc


    k_mac wrote: »
    There is little that can be done to trace the fraudster as he could be anywhere in the world.


    k_mac is correct but you could try
    Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation
    They have a Computer Crime Unit


  • #6
    the corpo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭the corpo


    thanks folks. looks like gumtree have a process for fraud like this, so will try them first, then the garda


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  • #7
    johnnyskeleton
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 14,535 Mod ✭✭✭✭johnnyskeleton


    k_mac wrote: »
    There is little that can be done to trace the fraudster as he could be anywhere in the world.

    Presumably a mutual assistance request can be put through and when the person goes to collect the cheque from the post office or wherever, he can be apprehended. The Gardai do it all the time here.


  • #8
    cushtac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭cushtac


    johnnyskeleton wrote: »
    Presumably a mutual assistance request can be put through and when the person goes to collect the cheque from the post office or wherever, he can be apprehended. The Gardai do it all the time here.

    It would want to be a serious fraud involving a huge amount of money for this to happen tbh.


  • #9
    detective
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 444 ✭✭detective


    I agree it would want to be an enormous capture for europol or interpol to engage in mutual policing. Its one of those "medium gain - low risk" crimes I'm afraid>


  • #10
    johnnyskeleton
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 14,535 Mod ✭✭✭✭johnnyskeleton


    cushtac wrote: »
    It would want to be a serious fraud involving a huge amount of money for this to happen tbh.

    I dunno. The Poles put through EAW requests for chicken rustlers, and there is a good chance that if the person is trying this deception with one person they might be doing it with several.

    It's entirely possible that it could be done by a large criminal organisation, so it would be a shame if minor leads were not followed up on because they were minor.


  • #11
    Reloc8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,857 ✭✭✭Reloc8


    There is no fraud committed here, as yet. If your mum went on and cashed the cheque, and sent the overpayment back, and the cheque bounced, there would be a fraud.

    There might be an attempt to commit a fraud.

    Report to gumtree. Report to gardai. Do not pass go. Do not collect large debit in your bank account. Bureau of fraud investigation is a good start.


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  • #12
    cushtac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,253 ✭✭✭cushtac


    johnnyskeleton wrote: »
    I dunno. The Poles put through EAW requests for chicken rustlers, and there is a good chance that if the person is trying this deception with one person they might be doing it with several.

    It's entirely possible that it could be done by a large criminal organisation, so it would be a shame if minor leads were not followed up on because they were minor.

    You have to convince the other police force that it is worth their while diverting resources to wait around for someone to claim the money. Generally they're not going to get interested unless it's significant, as while officers are sitting around waiting to arrest a suspect in a foreign crime the local gougers are preying off the local population.


  • #13
    eamor
    Registered Users Posts: 123 ✭✭eamor


    RTE did a piece about this last month on the Consumer Show...

    The Consumer Show
    Keelin Shanley and Eddie Hobbs
    Programme Four: 27th September
    This week, Eddie Hobbs takes a hard look at the prices of medication in pharmacies across the country. He compares these to the prices allowed by the HSE and asks how much money our pharmacists may be profiting for themselves.
    Meanwhile, Keelin Shanley exposes a South African bank draft scam that left one of our viewers out of pocket to the tune of three thousand euro.

    It seems to be happening a lot...contact the guards....Hope your Mam's ok.


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