Wheeling and dealing internationally

I was cited as a reliable source today over at Gene Edward Veith’s Cranach blog. I think this is good. Dr. Veith is now on his way to acquiring that high level of credibility he’s been striving for.

It looks like I’ve got a renter. The story (I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn) is rather weird.

Last night I got a call. It turned out to be a transcription call (or whatever they call it). That’s the kind of call you get from a deaf person. They type out a message which is read to you by the operator. Then the operator transcribes your reply so the caller can read it.

This caller was a businessman from Columbia, South Carolina, calling from Thailand (I’m not making this up). He was contacting me on behalf of his son, who is coming to study for a Master’s Degree somewhere in these parts. They (or he) saw my ad in the local Christian paper (probably on the web site, I would guess) and they want the room.

Sight unseen.

And they’ll pay an entire year’s rent in advance.

Hard to turn down an offer like that.

Around bedtime I got to thinking, “You know, this is suspicious. I get a call from a guy in the far east, whose voice I don’t get to hear. He offers me a sizable amount of money. I’ll bet this is a scam. I bet he’s going to end up asking for my bank account number.” (Which would be a joke on him. Hardly worth the cost of the phone call.)

But I checked my e-mail again and there was a message saying he’s sending a cashier’s check.

I can’t figure out a way for that to be bad.

Hope I get along with my new tenant.

When I get to meet him.

I think I know why it took this long to get a renter. This past Monday I sent an e-mail to the relatives in Norway, saying I wouldn’t be able to come to visit this year. I think if I’d had a renter, I might have opted to make the trip. And I think God doesn’t want me to do that in 2007. For reasons of His own.

His ways are above ours.

Have a blessed Maundy Thursday, friends.

Update: Commenter Susan warns me that this offer shows earmarks of a classic e-mail scam, and on checking I see that it does look suspicious. The main difference is the original contact by phone in my case. Security experts warn that one should never accept payment from a renter who contacts you by e-mail and does not examine the property first. I am going to take this very cautiously. Thanks to Susan for the heads-up.

0 thoughts on “Wheeling and dealing internationally”

  1. There is a scam out there where someone in a foreign country is looking to rent. (The beginning of college is a fave time for this one to appear.) They agree to send money via check. When the check arrives, it is for a considerable amount over the agreed upon amount. When the person is contacted, they ask that you cash the check, sending them the difference. (Usually there is some sort of obscure banking law kerfuffle that makes getting you a new check, for the precise amount, out of the question.) The check is of course bogus and you lose money and faith in humanity.

    I am praying that this is on the level.

    Take care–Susan

  2. This is very good to know. I will be watching closely. I imagine the best thing to do, if I get a suspiciously large check, would be to talk to my bank.

  3. oh dear…I was getting excited about your good news, but Susan is right to watch out.

    Time to pray for the Lord to bless ’em and you forgive, getting out of the Lord’s way so He can sic ’em. heh heh. “They” just can’t mess with God’s folks.

  4. I did some web research, and I have to say there are some warning flags here. I don’t think they can hurt me as long as I don’t “refund the overpayment” though. So I’ll be on guard. Thanks again, Susan.

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