Just a little update.

Today the bank first said my account was debited for the amount of only one check. Now my account is locked and I have to call them. Hopefully I can work something out and figure out exactly how much I owe.

Alright so here's the newest details. After the bank locked my account they took everything out of it that I had which wasn't much but they took it all out then they locked me out of my mobile banking. I called them and basically all they said was that everything was fine but that they were closing my account out today and I would need to find a new banking institution to bank with. Why do you think they did this? I told them I thought I was scammed and they didn't really care they just said the account was closed and there was nothing else that I needed to do. They said they weren't going to report it anywhere and that that was all I needed to know... It was a very odd phone conversation and I don't know if this is a good or bad sign.

I would have gone down there in person. The bank is still going to want their money. You probably got some low-level CSR on the phone. I would ask to speak to a manager.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/2015 09:07PM by Sybil2.

Alright so I called again and the bank confirmed that eventually I would owe them money but it'll be another two weeks before they know how much. They said I could do a repayment plan but I don't know how long I can draw out a repayment plan to the bank. I went to file a police report and they say they need all the bank records so I'll go into my Bank of America tomorrow to see if they'll even give me those now.

Thanks very much for the updates. As painful as it is, we've never gotten a detailed step-by-step narrative from someone who's actually going through this. You'll be able to warn friends, family and acquaintances who might otherwise be tricked in the same way. Chin up, mate--this too shall pass.

Hey Luke, I noticed in one of your posts you stated something about having to take a train ride--heads up that there are phone mystery shops available as well so you don't even have to leave your house to do them. They don't pay a lot, but it's a great way to "cut your teeth" and you don't have to worry about paying transportation fees.

My adult stepdaughter bounced some checks in her checking account and has owed a certain local bank about $300 for well over a year and they haven't come after her (she closed her account with them last year). Yes, everyone, we have lectured her on how this is ethically wrong to not pay them and that her credit will not get back on track until she takes care of this. Now granted, it's a local bank and not a national bank like BOA, so maybe that has something to do with why they haven't pursued it. I am of course not suggesting that it's a good idea to not pay them back, and I do think amounts of over $1,000 could constitute a much bigger deal so I would try to whittle it down as quickly as possible. I am sure that they could work out a repayment plan for a year or even more. It's odd that they completely closed your account and won't let you bank with them any longer, though.

Maybe you could do some bank mystery shops to help research your next financial institution. Those are great, as you are inquiring about checking or other types of accounts, with no out of pocket fees involved.

As far as someone else mentioned with a bartending gig--it can be hard if you are in a college town with a lot of competition, but worth a try. There is also the option of waiting tables--the more high-end the establishment the bigger your tips will be, of course.

Good luck to you in all that you do.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2015 07:37PM by JASFLALMT.

Thanks everyone for your support on this. This form is truly a great community and I'm not even a mystery shopper! (Although I might look into legit MS company's to make some money back)

Anyways here's an update:
Today I went to the bank and got a bank statement and spoke with the branch manager. He was very sympathetic with me and had seen this type of scam before. The total amount I owe the bank is $3,420. Luckily I didn't send the second amount so I have $1,900 to pay them back. My plan is to pay them back $1,500 tomorrow and keep $400 so I can live off of something seeing as I am now broke. This will bring my total down to $1,920 which I will get a loan from a friend/relative to pay off. BofA said I had until October 6th to pay off the debt owed or they would list me in the CHEX System as a counterfeit/fradulant client and then I wouldn't be able to open an account with any bank for 5+ years. After I got the bank statement I went back to the police station and they filed a report for Grand Larceny, they said I can call tomorrow to get a confirmation # for the report which I can show to banks if they have any questions about the situation. I'm also going to talk to my school tomorrow to see how they allow employers to view our resumes because that is the ONLY website my resume/school email is on, I'm curious to hear what checks they do to make sure the company/person accessing all of their students personal info is legitimate or not. I'll probably pick up an extra job or two and start a GoFundMe as a pity effort to gain back money for my mistake. I am truly upset, depressed, and feel so so stupid but I have learned my lesson. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Luke -

I applaud you for being brave enough to post this entire sordid mess. I am curious what you will find out from your school. Posting that will be useful also. I have a son in college. I can only hope that he doesn't fall for this or any other scam. The scam artists are good. Excellent, in fact.

Since there is no such thing as bad publicity, you might want to contact your college newspaper or the local general circulation newspaper. Before you do that, set up a GoFundMe, and the reporter may let you mention that. If you do, and if you happen to collect more money than you lost, let them know again, and have a plan as to what you will do with the excess money. Let us know if you do set up a GoFundMe. I am willing to contribute.

I am going to copy your story and send it to my son and to friends who have children in college. Most people who get scammed are too ashamed to tell the world, but it is only by making the story public, that other people get educated. Thank you for sharing your story.

Two careers ago, I taught at a major research university, and at that time I came up with a phrase which helped students then, and which I have occasionally said to colleagues and friends since then: "Pride is a renewable resource." This too will pass, and you will have a great story to tell people.

LukeMann -
Thank you for sharing this and for the continued updates. I hope others will benefit from your transparency.
If the scammer actually did get your info from your college resume listing, and if it is not visible to the public, then perhaps the scammer had to provide additional registration information to your college in order to access your resume. Perhaps that registration information could help the authorities identify the scammer.
Again, if the scammer got your info through your college, then it would not be unreasonable for you to ask your college to help you recoup your losses. They have much deeper pockets than you. If nothing else, extra hours with your on campus job.
You posted on Sept. 27, 7:00 p.m., "She made me fill out like an actual job filing form and even interviewed me by asking me a list of questions via email so it seemed very legit at the time." How much of your information does the scammer have regarding your identification? Did you provide your social security number? Did you answer security-related questions or give info about former employers, addresses, bank info., etc.? If so, you may want to contact credit agencies and put a freeze on any applications for credit made in your name, and you may need to notify your own credit card companies to prevent fraudulent uses of your accounts.

Luke, I am sorry this happened to you.

Something concerns me though. You say "I have $1,900 and I will use that to pay them back." That money does not exist. Both checks were fake.(If the $1,900 fake check is from the second check--unless you came into some money another way and have $1,900 cash to pay the bank?) You only sent one check to the scammers (so far). The bank deposited the "funds" from the second fake check. That sits in your account-as "ghost money"-so to speak. That too will be deemed null and void when the second check is found to be fraudulent. You owe them $3,420.

I know that following your posts you kept saying, "If this is fraudulent?" (it definitely was) and I was getting worried about your vulnerability.... The reason the bank blocked/froze your account is because they (in their eyes) realize you are high risk. You did not understand the banking system and that checks may "clear" in 2 days (scammers know this and that is why they rush you out the door to get the scam complete) and then two weeks later the check comes back as fraudulent. I realize many people don't realize the "cleared checks in 2 days" means nothing. It is LATER that the check is found to be fake.

If I have misunderstood you, please correct me. But if you are depending on check #2 to pay back check#1, they are both fake and you owe the bank $3,420.

SunnyDays - I think that he actually withdrew $1900 of the money and has still has that money somewhere else. He is now going to take $1500 of that $1900 back to the bank. Presumably he had other money in his account before this began and the bank took every penny of that, so this isn't as bad as it might sound. This entire episode is a mess, and I wish him the best of luck straightening this out.

myst4au- You are correct they took everything I have and I withdrew the money from the second check and still have it. SunnyDays- I kind of understand what you're saying but if I just returned the money from that second fake check won't it just go away? Since I took the money out the bank is out that much so once I return it won't it just go away? I'm going to be paying off whatever I owe by this Friday hopefully. After that I'll set up a GoFundMe and look for some other employment around town. I'm going to talk to the school this afternoon to see if they can help me out but I doubt they'll really even care.

I am sorry you got scammed by these thieves. They did catch some of them in Calgary a few years ago. But they just keep popping up. Good luck to you.

@LukeMann wrote:

myst4au- You are correct they took everything I have and I withdrew the money from the second check and still have it. SunnyDays- I kind of understand what you're saying but if I just returned the money from that second fake check won't it just go away? Since I took the money out the bank is out that much so once I return it won't it just go away? I'm going to be paying off whatever I owe by this Friday hopefully. After that I'll set up a GoFundMe and look for some other employment around town. I'm going to talk to the school this afternoon to see if they can help me out but I doubt they'll really even care.

Okay. You cashed two checks totaling $3240. Lets say your account had $22 in it. The bank pulls that and the difference is $3218. That is what you owe the bank. You pulled out the second check in cash. I don't think the bank is thinking too highly of you right now, knowing you got scammed on the first check and pocketed the second one. (knowing it was fraudulent) The money you have belongs to the bank. After you give them $1,900 (of which you said you have from the fake check) your balance will be $1,400 you owe the bank. I did not realize you pulled the money out. Not matter how desperate you were, you should never have touched that money. That money did not belong to you. What is this GoFundMe all about? You mention it in every post? Is this the one where you set up an account and people send you money? I wonder how eager they will be to send you money, knowing you took the money from the #2 fake check and put it in your pocket...Correct me again if I am wrong on something here...I am trying to understand why you think you have $1,900 cash?

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

I am trying to understand why you think you have $1,900 cash?

He has cash in hand and now a debt to repay. Just like most people in our country having various debts to pay, except that I would think most people's debts are not due to being duped by a scam.

He's been in contact with the bank and the bank has given a deadline of Oct 6 to pay back the debt in full so I don't see the need to chastise the OP further about that.

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

What is this GoFundMe all about? You mention it in every post? Is this the one where you set up an account and people send you money? I wonder how eager they will be to send you money, knowing you took the money from the #2 fake check and put it in your pocket.

I agree with you on this. After getting burned once due to trying to get something for nothing I would hope OP would learn that it's time to put in some real work to pay off the debt.

Yes SunnyDays I realize that money is not mine. And you are correct that my debt will be somewhere around $1400 when I give them back that money. I'm waiting to give them it back until I have the $1400 so I can give it all in full. You are wrong when you say I knew the checks were fradulant. I had no idea the checks were fradulant, the banks gave me the money the day after I deposited the checks which I know now is how they deposit checks but I thought that meant the checks were clear and the money was real. It wasn't until this Monday that the bank alerted me they were fake upon which they closed my account. I have learned my lesson from this if you want to consider this a lesson although I think it's terrible to call it that. And yes you are correct about what a GoFundMe is, seeing as I have no money right now after they depleted my checking and savings account and seeing how I have two jobs already it may be a good way for me to gain some more money from friends and relatives who think that what happened to me isn't a lesson but rather a crime that someone committed against me that I believed in.

I think you are both thinking that I have "pocketed" the money from the second check. I have not pocketed any money. Initially I was going to send that money from the second check as part of the scam (which is why I have it in cash) but then I caught onto the scam (thanks to this form). That money is going directly back to the bank once I get a loan from a friend or family member to pay off the remaining balance in full by Friday. Then it is just a matter or reimbursing my friend or family member with my own money that I'll earn by working.

@LukeMann wrote:

You are wrong when you say I knew the checks were fradulant. I had no idea the checks were fradulant, the banks gave me the money the day after I deposited the checks which I know now is how they deposit checks but I thought that meant the checks were clear and the money was real.

I tried to warn you after you cashed that first check. But because the bank gave you the money on it, you probably thought it was real and that we here were wrong. Certainly, I'm NOT trying to beat you up on this and there is a lesson in all this for sure. This scam can come in various forms. There is one on craigslist right now that is similar: You are selling an expensive item, say a washer and dryer for $400. A buyer will contact you and offer to buy your item(s) BUT, they are either a) away on business b) on vacation or c) in the hospital and cannot pick it up themselves. They offer to send you a "certified" bank check that covers the cost of your item and extra for shipping (sometimes they sound very anxious to get the item and will offer you MORE that you are selling it for just to "set the hook" so-to-speak). They tell you that their "movers" or "shippers" will be by to pick up the item once the check has cleared.(As you have found out, the check "clears" almost immediately. In this way people fall into this scam so readily). Then their movers come by, take the item, you pay them the agreed fee and off they go. Once again, 10 days later, your ass is holding the bag with a bogus check, you paid those dopes some cash, AND THEY GOT YOUR ITEM FOR FREE!!!! You just PAID THEM STEAL YOUR ITEM!!! AIn't that some $%!# !

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/2015 10:41PM by SolarKing.

I didn't find this form until after I had cashed both checks, I wish I had found it before I cashed either of them. The reason I found this thread was I looked up the woman (Larissa McClain) after I deposited and almost sent the second check and I am very grateful that this thread was started. I am a writer for my schools paper so I will be writing an article about this scam next week in hopes that no one else at my school falls into this scam as well. I am still curious about how this "woman" was able to obtain my student email though. I haven't posted it anywhere except on my college career website which leads me to believe she somehow was able to access my information on there.

@LukeMann wrote:

I didn't find this form until after I had cashed both checks, I wish I had found it before I cashed either of them. The reason I found this thread was I looked up the woman (Larissa McClain) after I deposited and almost sent the second check and I am very grateful that this thread was started. I am a writer for my schools paper so I will be writing an article about this scam next week in hopes that no one else at my school falls into this scam as well. I am still curious about how this "woman" was able to obtain my student email though. I haven't posted it anywhere except on my college career website which leads me to believe she somehow was able to access my information on there.

Luke, it doesn't sound as if your college is very diligent in screening "employers" that use their career website. The school's IT department may be able to pinpoint the scammers' location by the IP address or other info in the e-mail header. I hope you still have it and can forward it to somebody there. Once alerted to this scam, the school needs to block these people and find some way to screen out these scams! Even my verizon e-mail server knows enough to shuffle these into my spam folder!

Good luck, and I'm glad you're sharing your story so that others won't fall into this trap.

I need to notify my school as well.

Update:
Today I gave the $1,900 back to the bank. My total debt owed now is $1,427. Thankfully they have allowed me to pay them back within 30 days before they list me in the CHEX System as a fradulant client where I can't open up another bank account for 5+ years. Hopefully I'll have this paid off in a few week. I've filed a report with the police and IC3 just to make sure everything is documented. I also contacted Reality Based Group as well to let them know that someone is using in their name, brand information, and logo. I will be writing a letter to the president of my school to see what he thinks of this situation (although I doubt he will even make time to read it) since the woman who I told this to that runs the career website seems to not care too much. Thanks again for all your advice everyone I truly appreciate it, and thank you to the person who started this thread which made me realize it was a scam.

Hey Guys and Gals.
The other day I tried to go open up a bank account at Wells Fargo. They told me I was already in the CHEX System as a fradulant client so I was unable to open a checking account with them. The branch manager at my BofA said it'd be at least 30 days until they listed me in the CHEX System to where I couldn't open up a bank account but I guess he didn't know what he was talking about. I have contacted CHEX Systems to try and appeal my listing with my police report and IC3 report, hopefully they will take me off soon so I can open a bank account. I am just really upset about this whole situation and am really hurting for cash now seeing as I don't see how any family member can send me money without a bank account. Thanks for all the support on here, I really do appreciate it.

@LukeMann wrote:

I am just really upset about this whole situation and am really hurting for cash now seeing as I don't see how any family member can send me money without a bank account. Thanks for all the support on here, I really do appreciate it.

They could possibly send you cash by Western Union or through a PayPal account. They could also send you a check you could take to a check cashing place.

I think I'm gonna try to stay away from the Western Unions and Moneygrams ahaha just personal preference. I had never thought about a check cashing place though thanks for the thought.

Postal money orders are also a possibility and if you are in school your Bursar's office may cash a check from home for you without a fee.

Hey everyone. I appreciate all of your help on this form and I will keep posting updates until I get everything clear, at this point it seems like they're mostly personal bank related issues now though and not so much to do with the scam anymore. I wanted to thank everyone on here for your advice, I wish I had found this thread sooner than I did. My college has warned my fellow classmates about the scam and are trying to help me out as much as they can. In the meantime I am working two jobs now as well as writing articles for my schools online newspaper. If you want to contribute to my GoFundMe to help me out I made one last night and I'd really appreciate any donation even a dollar. I know I shouldn't be expecting any handouts in life but it just sucks that I fell for this scam and I hope you can sympathize with me and see where I am coming from. Thanks again.

Go fund me link deleted by Mod. If you want to contribute to Luke, please send him a PM

Luke: You admitted it was not your money but you said you were keeping $400 of it. Jus' saying...

But either way, hope things work out.

SunnyDays2 You're right I was going to keep $400 to live on but I ended up not doing that. I gave the bank back the full amount of the second check so the only amount I am out is the amount I sent along in the Moneygram scam. Which is why I am currently broke living off of nothing because I decided it wasn't ethically right for me to keep the $400 since it wasn't mine in the first place. I am not keeping any of the banks money, I have given everything back that I had plus the amount of money they took from me from my bank account.

Good for you, Luke. So now that you have repaid the bank in full, your account has probably been unfrozen and you will not need to open a new account. You won't have any difficulty receiving the money friends and family send to you or cashing their checks.