A Calgary senior is warning others after being left on the hook for thousands of dollars because of an online scammer who sent him a fraudulent cheque.
Wendell Burgoyne told Global News he recently listed a concrete saw for sale online. A buyer, who said he was from California, reached out and made an offer, also telling Burgoyne he would pay to have it shipped.
The buyer sent a cheque for $3,500 — $1,200 for the saw; $2,300 to cover shipping charges.
The 70-year-old man told the buyer he would not release the item until the cheque was cleared by his bank. He then deposited the cheque, which was put on hold by RBC. Eight days later, he went to withdraw the money required to pay for the shipping.
“He (the bank representative) said: ‘Yeah, it cleared. Here’s your $2,300.’”
Once it cleared, the buyer then instructed him to take that cash to another bank to pay the trucker who was going to pick up the saw.
The saw was never picked up. Burgoyne said he then got a surprise a few weeks later, when he was checking his bank statements.
“I got a minus $3,500 on my personal…
