I originally wrote and posted this back in 2017 on my other blog. I recently moved the post here.
When my mom passed away several years ago, I inherited two cemetery plots at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville. I’ve been trying to sell them (with no success) on Craigslist for the past few years. Every few months I would renew the ad, and usually within a few days I would get contacted by someone expressing interest. These were always scammers. The last time I did this, the same thing happened.
Mike Jones (Tue, May 30, 2017 — via Craigslist)
Hello, In regards to your ad do you still have the Lot for sale? What the actual price you sell to me? — Mike
I promptly responded:
Stuart (Tue, May 30, 2017)
Yes, they are still for sale. I’m asking $5,000 for both but would negotiate a little bit.
This wasn’t unusual — I’d answered a dozen emails like this over the years. Usually I never hear back. Surprisingly, “Mike” responded shortly:
Mike Jones
Hi, your email is encrypted by craigslist. Please Provide me with your email address so we email directly. Thanks, Mike
My first thought: this guy doesn’t understand what “encryption” means. I figured “what the hey” and responded with my actual Gmail address. A couple of hours later:
Mike Jones
Thanks for your email, we are in need of the lot for the burial of my father who we lost in England United Kingdom recently, so we decided to bring him for final rest back home here in the state. I will pay your asking price of $5000 and My means of payment is via cashier check. As soon as the check clear in your bank account, then I will bring in the Corpse for the burial and exchange of deed for Approval to Transfer Cemetery Property to our family.
Send me the details below for the check to be mail out if the procedure is Ok by you.
Name / Address / City / Zip-Code / Country / Cell phone
I will be waiting for your quick response. Thanks.. Mike
Hopefully you can see how this response immediately got my radar up. A person who claims to have lost his father in the UK wants to bury him in Nashville, TN, and pay via cashier’s check. His English is rough, so he’s likely a foreigner. And he’s willing to pay full price for two plots with no negotiation when he only needs one. Possible this isn’t a scam — but not likely. I’ll play along.
Stuart
To be clear this is for two plots. $5,000 for both. The cemetery location details are in the Craigslist ad. I have no idea what the land square meter is or the landscape area.
Mike Jones (Wed, May 31)
Thanks for your email. the price is okay by me. Provide me with your full names, address and telephone number for making the check payable and mailed out to you. Thanks, Mike
Yeah, this is a scam. But I decided to see how far “Mike” wanted to go. I sent him my work mailing address (not my home address) and left out my phone number. Then things got really interesting:
Mike Jones
Thanks so much for your email and the address sent to me. The check of $7,900 has been mailed out to you. Do please bear with me with this — My client owing me mail out the check of all the total is was owing me. Once you get the check do take it to your bank and have deposited and it will clear the next day. Once it clears do deduct the amount for the lot which is $5,000 and deduct additional $100 for your running expenses and wire the rest of the fund to casket man details i will provide you once you have the fund.
Do i entrust you with the wiring of the differences to my casket man?
NB, PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH YOUR PHONE NUMBER. — Mike
“What the heck is a ‘casket man’”? For those unfamiliar, here’s how this scam works:
The buyer agrees to your asking price, then sends a check for more than you’re selling it for. He asks you to wire the difference back to him (or in this case, his “casket man”). He even provides an explanation: My client who owes me money mailed me a check for the full amount, I’ll forward it to you. He even threw in an extra $100 for my “running expenses.”
The scam triggers when he insists you wire the extra funds the day after you deposit the check. The problem: the check is fraudulent. It will bounce — but that takes a couple of days. You wire the money thinking you’re keeping the sale price. The check bounces, the bank claws back the full amount, and you’re out the money you wired plus a returned check fee. Once a wire goes out, it’s very difficult to recover — especially 2–3 days later.
In this case: he sends me a bad check for $7,900. I keep $5,100, wire $2,800 to his “casket man.” Then the check bounces and I’m out $2,800. Fortunately, I knew exactly what was happening.
Stuart
My phone number is (470) 440-1876. I’ll be in a meeting for about another hour. But not sure why you need to call me.
I’m a little confused. You’re sending me $7,900 instead of $5,000 and you want me to wire the balance back to the casket guy? That sounds complicated. Why don’t you just send me a check for $5,000?
(Quick note: I was not giving this guy my real phone number. That’s a “burner” from the Burner app.)
Mike Jones (Thu, Jun 1 — 2:58 AM)
Thanks for your email.. We are doing business shouldnt i have your phone number so i can call you when payment is with you and also if i need to ask you questions? that why i requested for your number. Also i am a man of God and this is legit. Please tell other interested buyers it has been sold and also pull down the ad off Craigslist.. Let me know once the ad is pull down.
So he tried to guilt me, assured me he’s honest, and wanted me to pull the listing. Classic. A few more emails followed, then this one:
Mike Jones (Mon, Jun 5 — 6:50 AM)
The check of $7,900 has been mailed out to you and will be delivered via USPS courier service. Here is the tracking number: 9405501699320119840804. Once you get it, deduct $5,000 for the lot and $100 for your running expenses and wire the rest ($2,800) to my casket man. Once you get the check, do take it to your bank and have it DEPOSITED. Once deposited it will clear the next day — or if you have the casket man amount in your account already, withdraw it immediately and proceed to wiring. Once you get the check, do notify me, and also once deposited so i can give you the instructions immediately.
Thanks, Mike
I checked the tracking number — it was legitimate. He paid extra for Priority Mail. I worked from home Monday and wasn’t in the office for delivery. He texted my burner number to remind me, then called (I let it go to voicemail), then emailed me again. He was itching to get his money.
On Tuesday I found the USPS envelope at my desk. At least this guy was out about $7 for two-day Priority Mail. The return address showed “Bros Inc, 9131 SW Urish Rd, Auburn, KS 66402” — the middle of rural Kansas on Google Maps. I suspected that wasn’t “Mike Jones’” real address.
Inside the envelope was a single cashier’s check for $7,900. I looked up the ABA routing number for Mountain America Federal Credit Union — it didn’t match the number on the check. I called their fraud department and explained the situation.
The agent asked: “What color is the check?”
“Light blue,” I said.
Without hesitation: “Yeah, that’s a fraudulent check.”
So I had a decision: string him along a bit more, or call him out now? I decided to string him along.
Stuart (Tue, Jun 6 — 5:01 PM)
The check arrived. I’ll deposit it in the ATM and then let you know when it clears. Where do you want me to wire the balance?
Stuart (5:13 PM)
Also I need your mailing address so I can transfer the deeds to the cemetery plots to you.
Stuart (6:04 PM)
Who is Victoria Ann Hill?
Mike Jones (Wed, Jun 7 — 12:42 AM)
Thanks for your email. first thing this morning go withdraw the casket man fund which is $2,800 and follow the instructions i will give you. did you made the deposit yesterday and Victoria Ann is the Remitter of the Check. Is there Any Bank of America near you. Awaiting your email. Mike
Then he started texting:
Mike (1:15 AM): Victoria ann is the remitter of the check.. the client I told you about… Have you deposited the check? pls ur urgent response is needed from this moment so we can finalise this..
Mike (10:30 AM): Morning.. the check already cleared your bank.. you can check ur balance online to confirm
Stuart: I did. It’s still showing as a “hold.”
Mike: it will clear today. just keep checking
Stuart (12:30): Will do. What are the wiring instructions? And do you want to meet so I can sign over the property deed?
Mike: I will get the details for wiring it to you later today.. also I will meet up with you on Friday or Saturday so you can give me the deed.. Just withdraw cash and you have it deposited into the account details I will give u. Some amount already available when you deposited the check right?
Stuart (1:45): No. The bank didn’t give me any credit for the cashier’s check. I called and they said the policy is to give partial credit to accounts in good standing after one year. I’ve only had this account for about 5 months. So the check is on hold until it clears.
Mike: Which Bank do you bank with? well in less than 2 to 3 hours check and you see it cleared
Stuart: A local credit union. I’ll check again later. Email me the details on wiring or where you want to meet — I’ll be in Nashville this weekend and can meet you at Mount Olivet with the cash and the deed.
Mike: you have to send the cash to the casket man to start preparation… I will provide u with his account and u go deposit the cash into it and snap me the deposit slip. credit union don’t delay with clearing so am certain the fund will hit the account in some hours. I use to be a bankr (He used to be a banker, eh? Right.)
Stuart: Where do I wire the money?
Mike: Bank of America. I have explained to u. Do you have the cash now? (Missed call — I ignored it)
Mike: Don’t know what wrong with your phone. When I call it already charging me without u picking up. Is there another number I can reach u on (Note: he must be using a prepaid phone — these calls and texts are costing him money. Nice. :))
Stuart: I can’t just walk into a Bank of America and say “here is some money.” Where exactly do I send it? Sorry my phone is acting up. This is my only number.
At a few minutes after 5 PM, I’d had enough fun. Time to end it.
Stuart (Wed, Jun 7 — 8:19 PM — Subject: We have a problem…)
I’m not sure what kind of trick you’re trying to pull with me, but I just called my credit union and the check you sent was returned. They charged me a $25 returned check fee. The check isn’t valid. The routing number doesn’t match Mountain America Federal Credit Union.
What the heck is going on here?????
His response made me laugh out loud:
Mike Jones
That not possible
My final message:
Stuart
Not only is it possible, it’s reality. I called Mountain America Credit Union. The agent asked me what color the check was. I told him and he said without hesitation “that’s a fraudulent cashier’s check.” It’s not their routing number on the check. You, my friend, sent me a fraudulent check.
So. Mike Jones of Auburn, Kansas, if that’s who you really are — you wanna stop playing games and tell me what you’re up to?
He never responded. I suppose this scammer moved on to other victims. Hopefully this is a good example of why you should be cautious when dealing with anonymous folks online.
A few tips:
- Never accept payment for more than your asking price.
- If someone says to wire back extra funds after depositing their check — it’s a scam.
- If anyone pays by check, including a cashier’s check, call the issuing bank to verify it before you do anything with it.
- When meeting someone in person to complete an online sale, meet in a public location. Your local police station parking lot is a great option.