What to do? Did I get scamed?

[featherfanatics]

I answered an ad on petfinders for a B&G. I've emailed and talked to this lady several times before I finally made up my mind to buy him. I sent her a $100 casher's check yesterday to hold him until I can come pick him up in 2 weeks. She's about a 4 1/2 hr drive from me. Anyway. I was really excited about getting this bird until I checked my other email address! I forgot that I had placed an ad on a bird site looking for a B&G. This same lady saw my ad and answered me. She told me all about this B&G she has for sale and wanted to know if I'd be interested. I asked her for pictures and sure enough it's the bird that I just bought! She's trying to sell me a bird that I just put a deposit on! What do I do now? I'm afraid that I've just been scammed!

[jessica313]

im not sure but how long ago did u send the check?? u can usually put a stop on them within a certain amount of time

[featherfanatics]

I just sent it out yesterday morning. She should have gotten it by now. I planned on calling her in the morning to make sure that she had recieved it. Now, I'm not sure what to say when I call!

[Copper]

Maybe she was just keeping lines open until she got your deposit? What type of paperwork did you send with it? and was it certified mail?

[CALVINS MOM]

Was your check sent to a physical address or a P.O. Box? You can usually do a reverse look-up.

[Monica]

You should be able to cancel the check... you'll have to check with the place you got the check from (i.e. bank) to see if you can cancel it if you think it is a scam... however the bank may charge you for the service...
How to stop a lost money order, friends? | Ask MetaFilter
Cancelling a Cashiers Check? - Yahoo!7 Answers

Do you have pictures of the bird? (more than one preferrably) Have you ever heard the bird over the phone? Can you give us the ad for the bird?

[catschair]

Call your bank and ask them to put a hold on the check in the morning-- tell her that you need to see the bird, then will release the check (you can make up some mean relative who won't let you send the money if it is easier than confronting her). Suspect it is a scam, but you never know. Sounds like you will be going on a road trip soon. Fingers crossed!

[featherfanatics]

Originally Posted by Copper

Maybe she was just keeping lines open until she got your deposit? What type of paperwork did you send with it? and was it certified mail?

That's what I'm hoping she's doing is just keeping her options open just in case! I didn't send anything with the check and I didn't even think about sending it certified. I did send it to a physical address though. I really hope I'm panicking for nothing.

[CALVINS MOM]

Originally Posted by featherfanatics

That's what I'm hoping she's doing is just keeping her options open just in case! I didn't send anything with the check and I didn't even think about sending it certified. I did send it to a physical address though. I really hope I'm panicking for nothing.

I would do a search on the internet for her name to see if it matches the address. You can always respond to the email on your "other" email and see if she says the bird is still available. If she does, I'd be on the phone with her and then the bank.

[featherfanatics]

I emailed her last night on my "other" email and asked her how much she wanted for the bird and when I could come get him. She replied that I could come and get him asap and she raised the price $150 more than what she told me!
I got the cashiers check at the post office so I'm heading up there this morning to see if there is anyway that I can stop payment on it.