January 28, 2008

Purdue police warn of book purchase scam

In the scam, students are contacted by someone who offers to buy their used books. The alleged buyers tell the student they will send a check for more than the purchase price. The student is told to cash the check, then deduct the cost of the book, plus shipping, and quickly send the excess amount back to the alleged buyer.

"Most of the time the alleged buyer wants the money sent back via Western Union," said Lt. Fred Davis. "The urgency in cashing the check and sending the overage is that the bank will determine the check is bogus within 24 hours or so. The person who made the bank transaction then becomes liable."

Alleged buyers have contacted students by Internet after students advertised books for sale on the Web sites eBay and Facebook. In another instance, a student received a phone call from someone with a thick foreign accent, Davis said. The seller became suspicious and asked the person for a phone number and was told that the alleged buyer had an international phone number and would not divulge it.

Davis said people should never take part in a transaction involving sending an overage payment. "This is a big tip that something is fishy," he said.

Anyone who has been contacted about making such a transaction should report it to Purdue police at (765) 494-8221.

Writer: Jim Bush, (765) 496-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu

Source: Lt. Fred Davis, (765) 494-8221, fvdavis@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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