Happens to companies too. My wife deals with foreign based companies and she received a very credible call from a comany in Dubai. Built up a relationship and eventually a large order came through. As a new customer the company policy is to require payment before shipment.

Not a problem for the Dubai company and a cheque duly arrived, but it was for 10 times the amount required. Wife queried this, they explained it was a "clerical error" and she was asked to cash it and send a refund, but the refund cheque was to be made out to someone else!

Needless to say the cheque was never cashed.

Pardon the pun but I just 'checked' how long a foreign cheque will take to REALLY clear. Hope your sitting down.

SIX to EIGHT WEEKS !!!!

So you see funds in your account, maybe go spend it as downpayment on your next car . Why not eh? You can clearly see the funds are in your account.

Meanwhile the scammer has your car..re-registers or ships it to wherever.

Then six to eight weeks later Mr RB MidLloydBarclay comes along and takes the seven grand or so out of your account.

Welcome to you new overdraft Mr Victim.

Shudder......scary world full of crooks out there my friend.

Send the nice lads all your credit card numbers...and if one's lucky you win a trip to the poor house..via the bankruptcy court.

Then there are those who send money to people who they are romantically interested in, but have only ever corresponded with over the net..never actually met them.

Go google 'the 419 scam.

Gosh people are odd.

Mind you if I'm so smart why am I not rich by now? Please write your answers on the back of a 'seven' pound note and mail it to........Happy Dude.....etc

Later on his rubber cheque b'doyngs

What does it do again?