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© Copyright 1999, Jim Loy
Imagine this scenario: A man is standing on a sidewalk next to a sign that says "Free Money." You are asked to give him a check for $10, and he will give you a $20 bill. Sorry only one to a customer. And they are going fast. You examine one of his $20 bills, and it seems genuine. Would you go for it? Should you?
I, personally, suspect that this is a scam. Even though I made up the above scenario, I don't know what is going on. I doubt that these are counterfeit $20 bills, as it is a stupid way to get rid of them. Maybe he has a way of changing the amount on the check. Maybe it will end up as $10,000, somehow. Maybe he will photocopy the check (or scan it and print out more checks for more money) and cash it many times, in many places. That $10 check could cost me thousands. Maybe he wants my address or phone number for some reason. But maybe it is all legitimate. Maybe it is Candid Camera. Maybe I will end up on a mailing list. But I think it is a scam.
I suspect that most people would dive right in, "You sometimes have to risk to make $10." I say, "Why take a risk for a measly $10?"