Consumer complaint received 2016-03-08
Company: MONEYGRAM PAYMENT SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE INC
State: OR
Product: Money transfers
Sub-product: Domestic (US) money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
I live in XXXX, XXXX. I had a bicycle listed on XXXX for sale for {$2200.00}. 
XXXX contacted me via text message, asking if the bike was still available on Friday XXXX/XXXX/16. I said yes, XXXX immediately Page XXXX of XXXX said she would buy it and said she would send a check. I asked her if she wanted to see the bike first, she said she was undergoing XXXX and could not. then, she said she would send a check and we could wait for it to clear, prior to arranging the pick up of the bike. I asked that she send a cashier 's check instead, to avoid any wait, and she agreed. I gave her my address. 
5 days later on Wednesday XXXX/XXXX/16, she texted me back and communicated a tracking # for the check. 
I received the cashier 's check the next day on Thursday XXXX/XXXX/16 for the amount of {$3400.00}, which was {$1200.00} more than I asked as the selling price. Funds were send from an XXXX address ( XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX ) and the check was written from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( headquartered in XXXX, XXXX ). 
XXXX never discussed sending me extra money, prior to sending the check, or that she was not located in XXXX, XXXX. I immediately texted her and asked why she sent me the extra funds and also how she planned to pick up the bike. XXXX stated that {$100.00} was a tip for my agreeing to the terms of the sale and the other {$1100.00} extra was for her mover to pick up the bike. I had concern with this aspect, but agreed. I deposited the check the same day into my local credit union, a hold was put onto the check. 
The funds became available to me on Sunday XXXX/XXXX/16. I contacted XXXX on Sunday and notified her that the funds were available and asked when we could set up a pick up time. She replied that Monday XX/XX/XXXX would be a good day and i agreed. 
XXXX texted me early Monday morning, asking about the pickup. She restated the purpose of the extra funds ( {$100.00} tip for me and {$1100.00} for mover ), then asked that I send the {$1100.00} for mover via MoneyGram to XXXX XXXX XXXX to an address in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX ), which is the address of a XXXX. I was able to wire transfer the money accordingly a few hours later and was given a ref #. I texted XXXX about the transfer and communicated the ref #. I check the ref # a few hours later, and the money was picked up by the receiver. 
I did n't hear back from XXXX for 8 hours and texted her to check on the status of the pick up. She replied back that she could not proceed with the pick up, because her nephew XXXX. XXXX was purchasing the bike for said nephew. I told her I was sorry to hear that and understood not continuing with the sale of the bike. I asked her where I could send the remainder of the funds {$2300.00} back to her, via check. 
XXXX then asked me to send the funds via MoneyGram, once again to XXXX XXXX XXXX, and insisted that I keep {$250.00} for my troubles. She asked for the transaction to take place immediately tomorrow on Tuesday XXXX/XXXX/16. I told her that I was not comfortable with sending the rest of the funds via MoneyGram and asked where I could send a cashier 's check. I also stated that I could not complete the transaction by Tuesday XXXX/XXXX/16, but would have time on Thursday XXXX/XXXX/16 to do so. XXXX stated that XXXX XXXX XXXX would be out of town on Thursday and insisted I try to send the funds on Tuesday XXXX/XXXX/16. 
I told XXXX that I was no longer comfortable with the situation and would be sending a certified check for the remaining amount back to the address from which it came. She then asked me to send the funds to an address in XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX ) and requested they be in a US Postal Money Order. I told her that I could not do that and would be sending a cashier 's check to the original address it was sent from. She never responded.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation