I'm feeling suspicious, need some help

[geetarmonkey]

As you may have noticed, I have a For Sale ad posted in the Guitars and Gear forum for a Marshall JCM 800 ( http://www.jemsite.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=34409 if you're interested ). Anyways, I've posted this same ad on a few of the forums that I frequent, and I finally decided to put it up on Harmony Central. So far I've gotten a couple emails from guys that are interested. I gladly sent one dude some pics and asked him where he was located, and he sent me this email:

"Thanks for your prompt response about this transaction.Actually,i am
mailing from canada,and i want you to know that i am highly interested
in that 1982 Marshall JCM 800 head 2203
.Fortunately for me i have conversated with my client who is owing me
about $6950 to issue a $850 . cashier check in your name but he let me
understood that he is willing to pay me the debt at once because he
wants to close down his business for a month, due to his mother's death and
he will be playing vital role in the ceremony.so i told him immediately
to issue the $6950 cheque in your name,but all you will need to do is
that,you will cash the check and deduct your $850 and other charges
from it and you will have to send my balance to my shipping agent who will
come for the inspection and the pick up of the W1982 Marshall JCM 800
head 2203, Fat Neck
from your destination.Before all these can be achieved i will need the
following,

FULL NAME.............
ADDRESS................
POSTAL CODE............
PHONE NUMBER...........
so that the check will be issued in your name and be sent to your
physical address by my client.i want you to act fast about sending this
contact details so that i can forward them to my client with immediate
effect. best regards to you and your family and stay blessed. thanks
GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"

Now I don't deal much on the web, but this just seems weird to me. I'm not saying it's a scam, but I'm not ruling it out, and I know you guys have more experience with this stuff than I do. So I'm just asking for some help, thanks!

[Rich]

It's absolutely a con. He's easy to get rid of, tell him you'll only do it if the money is WIRED to your bank account.

[geetarmonkey]

Thanks, will do Rich. But just for my information's sake, what's the harm in letting him send me a check? If it were to clear and I have $850 cash in my hand, I'll throw it in a lake if he wants (hehe, not really but you understand). I'm just trying to learn a bit of this scam stuff, because dealing on the internet seems to be the way to go and I don't want to get left behind

[the.godfather]

Yeah I agree - sounds incredibly fishy to me. Do what Rich said or just block him all togther or something. Its just not worth the risk to find out whether he is dodgy or not!

[Rich]

It's the classic bogus check scam, it's a fake but good enough your bank will depostit it. It'll take about 7 days for them to find out it's a fake because it'll be on a foreign bank. If you don't mind getting hit with the bounced check charge be my guest.

[geetarmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rich

It's the classic bogus check scam, it's a fake but good enough your bank will depostit it. It'll take about 7 days for them to find out it's a fake because it'll be on a foreign bank. If you don't mind getting hit with the bounced check charge be my guest.

No way, I already told him to buzz off!

[geetarmonkey]

Also Rich, I looked on your website and found this under the payment options: "Money Orders and Bank Checks MUST have enough security features present to distinguish them as "real", otherwise they must clear before shipping. "

What security features do you mean? Watermarks, etc? And when you get a money order or bank check, how long do you wait after it is receieved before sending an item out?