Airline Pilot Forums

So I ferry aircraft on the side when I can. I really enjoy it.

I had a guy contact me a few weeks before xmas about ferrying his A33 Debonair from somewhere near Chicago to Boston.

We traded emails for a few weeks, planning, and so on... He was to send me a pre-payment of $500. Delay delay delay....

The check finally comes. The fedex I received came from Houston, the check from Atlanta, from some company I've never heard of... However, the check is for $2500. Memo : INSTANT CASHING The tracking # he gave me was for some package in Pittsburg.

There was a generic note inside the envelope... Email this guy when you get the check, blah blah blah.

Yea, right... Like I'm going to do that. So obviously, this is a check scam where I'm supposed to deposit their check for $2500 and send them back a check for $2000. Hah, if they only knew.... I dont have $2000! lol Of course, I'd have $2000 fewer dollars if I fell for this scam.

I got a phone call at 5am from some guy with an accent. I just told him wrong number. I'm annoyed....

Anyone here know how i can give the check, note and envelope and emails to some authorities? Any fraud police on the site? I contacted the FTC.... They could care less... They took my report, were extremely rude, and didnt give a crap. They wont do anything on it.

The strangest part of this in my opinion was how knowledgeable he was about airplanes. His emails were very believable.

Be aware out there. People are jerks!

U.S. Secret Service

How do you advertise yourself and why would you ask for a deposit? Sometime it does take 2 or 3 weeks to get all the funds and prebuys done. You have a very strange situation going on there for sure. Deposit the check , wait for the funds to be there before you do anything.

Was the accent Nigerian?

This sounds very similar to a common scam that's been used in the "work from home" arena.

If you think that's what it is, Secret Service as navigatro suggested, or the FBI or US Postal Service Inspectors (they investigate mail fraud)..

Edit: not the Postal Service - I just noticed that they used FedEx.

Was there an N number ever mentioned in your correspondence?

Lets give the TSA something to do, since it involved an a/c ring them up and mention you kinda felt funny. I would also find out who it was you talked with at FTC and report to the TSA & HSD.

So I ferry aircraft on the side when I can. I really enjoy it.

I had a guy contact me a few weeks before xmas about ferrying his A33 Debonair from somewhere near Chicago to Boston.

We traded emails for a few weeks, planning, and so on... He was to send me a pre-payment of $500. Delay delay delay....

The check finally comes. The fedex I received came from Houston, the check from Atlanta, from some company I've never heard of... However, the check is for $2500. Memo : INSTANT CASHING The tracking # he gave me was for some package in Pittsburg.

There was a generic note inside the envelope... Email this guy when you get the check, blah blah blah.

Yea, right... Like I'm going to do that. So obviously, this is a check scam where I'm supposed to deposit their check for $2500 and send them back a check for $2000. Hah, if they only knew.... I dont have $2000! lol Of course, I'd have $2000 fewer dollars if I fell for this scam.

I got a phone call at 5am from some guy with an accent. I just told him wrong number. I'm annoyed....

Anyone here know how i can give the check, note and envelope and emails to some authorities? Any fraud police on the site? I contacted the FTC.... They could care less... They took my report, were extremely rude, and didnt give a crap. They wont do anything on it.

The strangest part of this in my opinion was how knowledgeable he was about airplanes. His emails were very believable.

Be aware out there. People are jerks!

I would just deposit the check... and not send anything back. Tell them you'll deliver the money with the airplane ;)

There will probably be a stop payment on the check... happens a lot...

Greetings,

I represent a wealthy Nigerian diplomat who has passed away..... blah, blah, blah

You should summarize the experience here:

Hiring Scam Updates - Wiki (http://flightpod.tv/wiki/index.php?title=Hiring_Scam_Updates)

So I ferry aircraft on the side when I can. I really enjoy it.
Anyone here know how i can give the check, note and envelope and emails to some authorities? Any fraud police on the site?


I'll be glad to help you. Would you please send me your Social Security number, bank where you have your checking account, drivers license number as well as your passport number and..........

Seriously, I would contact the FBI, This is an interstate scam and if my knowledge is correct, they have jurisdiction. I'm sure someone will talk to you if you call.

Thanks for posting and warning us all.

G'Day Mates

I had this happen to me too, had the cops come to show them the emails and fake check, they said nothing they could do about it; so I called the fbi, they said they couldn't do anything about and to contact some internet division; so I called them, and they said it's a scam and they can't do anything about it.

Great system.

So kind of off the topic here, but how does one go about getting to do some ferry flights on the side? Is it just like a lot of jobs in this industry where it's all about who you know or being at the right place at the right time?

Needless to say, I'm getting pretty bored sitting on my hands in a PA28, and would love the opportunity to get to fly some different aircraft.

So kind of off the topic here, but how does one go about getting to do some ferry flights on the side? Is it just like a lot of jobs in this industry where it's all about who you know or being at the right place at the right time?

Needless to say, I'm getting pretty bored sitting on my hands in a PA28, and would love the opportunity to get to fly some different aircraft.

Mostly who you know. Go talk to any local airplane dealers, they may have some business. Other than that it's word of mouth.

I've been doing it for 10 years. It's mostly a "who you know" thing. One thing that helps alot is having airline travel priveledges. I second the idea of finding a local dealer/broker and getting some face time. All these guys know each other too, so if you do some work for one you'll no doubt meet some other dealers and eventually get in the "network"...Dont give yourself away. too many guys willing to fly for free will bring our profession down. $$$$$$$

One thing that helps alot is having airline travel priveledges.

Keep that on the DL...all airlines have a policy that nonrev is for pleasure, not business use. They can yank your travel bennies if anyone finds out...or your job.

I've been doing it for 10 years. It's mostly a "who you know" thing. One thing that helps alot is having airline travel priveledges. I second the idea of finding a local dealer/broker and getting some face time. All these guys know each other too, so if you do some work for one you'll no doubt meet some other dealers and eventually get in the "network"...Dont give yourself away. too many guys willing to fly for free will bring our profession down. $$$$$$$

This info and rick's is right on...

I've been doing a bunch of ferry flights. It's pretty good fun, but when you're going you're mostly a solo operation... 8 hour flights can get pretty boring, pretty quick.

It's all about who you know.. but if you start to do it and are reasonably successful at bring aircraft to the buyer without too much damage.. well... they'll send you on more flights, etc.. etc..

Keep that on the DL...all airlines have a policy that nonrev is for pleasure, not business use. They can yank your travel bennies if anyone finds out...or your job.

it's all pleasure...;)

I had this happen to me too, had the cops come to show them the emails and fake check, they said nothing they could do about it; so I called the fbi, they said they couldn't do anything about and to contact some internet division; so I called them, and they said it's a scam and they can't do anything about it.

Great system.


What do you want them to do in the case of a Nigerian scam? The guy is in a foreign country (to you) that is not going to do anything.

Besides, almost all phones in Nigeria are prepaid things.... no names, no addresses. The best defense is your vigilance. I would not want the TSA / FBI / XXX spending one cent of my tax money investigating these. There will be no arrest, no conviction, no nothing but wasted tax money (unless it's the stupidest scam artist ever).

Beware 419 ~~~

http://www.419scam.org/

I would just deposit the check... and not send anything back.

DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK!!!

Depositing the check provides the scammer with your account and routing numbers (recorded on the back of the check by the bank).

DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK!!!

Depositing the check provides the scammer with your account and routing numbers (recorded on the back of the check by the bank).

Your bank will also charge you a fee for depositing a bad check.

Joe

What do you want them to do in the case of a Nigerian scam? The guy is in a foreign country (to you) that is not going to do anything.


INTERPOL??