Twice I have been approached by customers trying to mail me a check and have me pay a floor installer on their behalf. This works for the customer because they are out of town and we would both be there on the same day and they would compensate me an additional $400 for my time on top of booking a total house wash etc. Obviously I have not accepted either time from a liability standpoint and they immediately ghost. The messages are pretty much identical so I called one number but asked for the other name they gave me not matched to that number and they confirmed without hesitation… suspicious. I feel strongly that this is some sort of scam but I can’t figure out how it works? How does them mailing me a check that I cash before the job screw me over? I’m just curious because I can be a little naive about these sorts of things.
As a warning for new guys like me, have y’all seen any other scams or tricks to be avoided?
It’s a scam. Block the number and move on 
I am pretty sure the bank cashes the check based on YOUR standing with them - the check doesn’t actually clear for several days.
The idea is that you pay the “floor installer”(likely same person running the scam) before the check bounces, and when it does, you are on the hook with the bank.
At least this is my guess…
Edit: @Pau1
I’m the floor installer and would like to get paid. Please send me cash or bitcoin for my labor. Owners were away on business. Message me for details.
Exactly. A common adaptation of this uses stolen credit cards instead of fake checks. You’re on the hook when there’s a chargeback on the card (which the merchant is responsible for in card-not-present transactions) for the fraudulent charges. And by that time, you’ve wired money to some supposed contractor who doesn’t take credit cards (who doesn’t exist, it’s just the scammer).
(Also, 9 times out of 10, the house at the address they provide will be for sale. Very easy for them to find listings online, and there’s a higher probability that no one will be home when you go to do the estimate.)
I get these texts constantly. The funniest one so far was when he accidentally sent it to about 5 numbers at once 
https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/scammers-getting-sloppy/28938
You deposit fake check into your checking account
You send them real money
Check bounces , and puts you in the hole $400 plus bank fees
Damnit Paul! All you had to do was wash Chris Lauren and bill lawsons home and give the flooring guys a few pointers on how to do their job and you could have doubled your foldings.
I think a check can take 21 days to clear. If I remember right money orders and cashier checks are even worse and take months. Run like the wind, unless you can get them to believe your the flooring contractor and get them to send you $400 cash. 
Hi everybody. The last two inquiries that I have received have almost the exact same verbiage as the @Pau1 text that he shared. Where they say they are out of town but can you come by and check it out. The first one I went by the empty home, sent an estimate with some questions and never heard back. The second one came last night, the person said “power wash MY home”, but when I searched the county database they are not the owners. I guess I’ll text them back and ask about their relationship to the legitimate owners. I don’t know, I’m suspicious something is going on but I don’t understand what it is.
it’s a scam. They’ll then ask if you accept credit cards as payment. Don’t waste your time looking at the house or sending estimates.
It’s a scam. It’s always a scam.
My most recent one didn’t miss a beat after sending me a New Jersey addess when I’m based in Texas.
Offered to fly me there 
You’re a famous author. Maybe they just want the best. Might be some Saudi billionaire, lol.
that gave me a good chuckle.
120 people for an anniversary party?! Lol
Here’s the rest of the conversation with the scammer . I wanted to keep going but it was taking to much out of my time
I was just approached by the same type of people looking to 1099 scam me I figured out the company they worked for it is called cyprexx and they are a “preservation” company and I didn’t know what I was getting into and accepted for them to send me the check so I could give the flooring person his cut I luckily found people who have had the same thing done to them and am not gonna respond anymore to them and I am wondering if there is anyway I could scam them back and keep this money they are sending me to repay them for all the people they have scammed
Two wrongs don’t make a right. Now you know the scam. Just avoid it.
