Heres my situation:
I own a small web design business based out of Ontario Canada. I received an email in June by an "Isaac John" saying he had a client ("Henry Mark") interested in a small website, and wanted some pricing information.
After some conversation, we decided on a price (only $150 US), and he said that his client would contact me to give me the details when he returned from a trip.
In mid-August, I received a Travellers Express money order based out of Baltimore, Maryland for $3,000 US Dollars from Henry Mark.
I contacted Isaac asking why the overpayment, he said it was a prepayment for hosting and maintanence; and to deposit the cheque - at this point, he gave me Henry's contact information. So I did.
I sent Henry an email to let him know the cheque was deposited, but received a reply saying that he had hosting and maintanence arranged in the UK and asked that I send the money back (after I took my fees and any transfer costs out of it) via Western Union. This was a week after the cheque had been deposited. Before withdrawing the moeny to send, I made sure the cheque had cleared to be told it had; so I sent the remainder back to be picked up in the UK by "Yinka Rotimi".
I received a call from my bank saying the payment on the cheque had been stopped and the money removed from my account (essentially putting me $3,500 CAD in debt to the bank).
I will be meeting with the bank tomorrow morning, then the police, what can I expect and does anyone have any suggestions that may help?
Andrew
|