"Electronic Cashier Check" scam

I am fairly new to posting items to Craigslist, and I thought I was fairly intelligent. I just about completely fell victim to the most moronic type of scam. This whole slew of Nigerian/African/whatever scam artists doing the whole, I really want to buy your item, but I'm busy. So, hustle on down to the nearest office supply store (and they seem to all have a list of several, don't they) and buy this business check paper, and, guess what, I'll even throw in an extra $50 to make it worth your while. I guess I was enamored because I was really hit hard financially, and the $1500 + extra $50 just charmed my socks off. I even screwed up and gave them my name and address (luckily I didn't give them my social... that's when you'll need to call my family and have me committed, so I can't make any more dumb financial mistakes). So, my question to you (the scamming victims, the people that could not be scammed because they are way smarter than I am, etc), how can I get this evil, horrible person? The name (probably fake) on the e-mail is "Thompson Ayo", but he/she/it always signed off as "Ayo", the e-mail address is [email protected]. What do I need to do to ensure I didn't completely screw myself over, can I get anybody in trouble, or do I just leave this e-mail and move on with my life? I feel like a complete idiot for falling for this "okey-doke", and I let the person know that I do not want to do business with them. I probably should have lead them on enough to get more information, huh? Please, someone, anyone, help me fight these parasites!!! I'm all ears.--Kayp1982

Just drop them and move on. You haven't given them any info that isn't publicly available, so you don't have that to worry about.

The names given to you were fake, and the scammer is most likely operating from Africa or Malaysia, far beyond the reach of our law enforcement, so even if you had a real name and info, you won't get anywhere.
By posting the scammer's current info, you are helping others to avoid falling for the same scam. If you post the emails from the scammer, you can help even more, as the scammer will likely reuse this script even after he changes names.

Thank you so very much. I will take your advice. I will go ahead and post his e-mails. I've seen a couple of the same on this site already.

Here are the e-mails:

Ayo Thompson ([email protected]) first e-mailed me this:

"Do you still have this item available for sale?"

*It's a bedroom and dresser set I have on sale for $1500 just so you know.

I let him/her/it know that it definitely was for sale (I had just posted it the evening before).

Hello,
I'm completely interested in buying it but I'm very busy with work and other important obligations so i anticipate that I'll have an Electronic Cashier Check issued out to you.I'm in no rush with you till funds are cleared in your bank.This is just a means to send bank check to your e-mail instead of mailing it to you and You will need a Blank Business Check Paper to print it from your e-mail. The blank business check paper is sold for $20 at staples, office max or any stationery store. I will reimburse you with additional $50 and we will arrange pick up when payment has been cleared by your bank. Kindly e-mail me back with your Name and Address address and also remove the Ad if you are interested in selling it to me to avoid interruption by others.
Expecting your response with details requested.

Thanks
Ayo.

*I let him know that I was interested only if he would be able to haul the set away himself and the check had cleared my bank. Once that happened, I told him we could figure out when he could come pick up his furniture... [stupid, stupid, stupid]

*I sent him another e-mail telling him that it might be more worthwhile if I were to set it up on Ebay, so he could pay through PayPal (I knew PayPal would take about 3 or 4% of my earnings, but I trusted it more than a cashier's check because they won't clear it if it's bad/if it's coming via a check, they wait a while to verify it as well)

Ayo:
OK,
Please proceed to the nearest listed store below to purchase the Business check paper that was sold for $20 only...

stationery store,
staples
local office supply outlet
compusa
office max
shopping mall
kinkos office

and get back to me with your Name and valid address as soon as you purchase the supplies so that i can send the payment immediately..

Thanks
Ayo.

*I like a dummy gave my information (which a wonderful person let me know anyone could have found out via a simple internet search--not my social or anything crazy, which I wouldn't have given up anyway) and said I would purchase it in the morning.
*Then I asked him if I was purchasing the correct paper.
*Then, finally, my common sense/bullcrap radar started functioning, I did a Google search of "electronic cashier check", which is horrible grammar, and I found this site: "Thanks again for your interest. I talked to my bank and did a simple Google search. Nice try, my friend. Good for you on getting me to fall for the okey-doke. If you do send me any further correspondence I.e. This fraudulent "Electronic Cashiers Check", I will forward it on to the police. If you are not fraudulent, my apologies, but I will need cash."

Ayo:
"Yes." <---no idea what this was in reference to.

*My last e-mail to him, and I've had no messages from him/her/them/it since: "I have changed my mind, sir. Do not send me this "electronic Cashiers Check". Thanks for your interest, but I am not going to be involved with any scam."<---way too incredibly nice, I know.

I just wonder if I had kept them on longer if there was any way to get information for prosecution. I'm sure that there was no way, but still, I'm angry them for probably succeeding with several people (ruining their lives and/or credit). I'm mostly angry at myself though for almost falling for this stupid "too good to be true" scam and giving them information. Luckily, I live next door to a police officer, and I have many strong, big brothers near by just in case they were to actually come by, which they won't because they do this strictly via the internet.

I sure hope this helps someone NOT fall victim to one of these stupid fraudulent scams.

You did the right thing by dropping him. It is never a good idea to play with criminals who have your real information.

The scammer is in another country (most likely in Africa or Malaysia) far out of reach of our law enforcement, so even if you had managed to get a real name and address (not highly likely as he is using fake details anyway), it wouldn't lead to prosecution.

Thanks, Dotti. I appreciate your advice. I will just make sure to "Google" the crap out of any and everything in the future. I think this scam was just the wrong thing at the right time. Normally, I wouldn't fall for stuff like that, but I was in a "Oh, God, how am I going to pay my bills" frame of mind at the moment. This sure wouldn't help, huh? I'm glad this website exists. I will make sure to post all future scams from here on out.