The simple answer is that people who truly fall for this scam (and a number have come to this forum after they sent money to the scammers) are responsible for returning ALL of the money to the bank where they deposited the bad check. So, in this case, the OP was sent a check for $2950 (often a realistic looking Cashier's Check). Lets assume that the OP had deposited the check, and two days later withdrew the remaining $2590 and then went to Western Union and sent $2590 to the scammer. A week later, the OP's bank calls and says that the original check was fraudulent. You are responsible for returning the $2950 plus a $50 (or whatever fee) = $3000 to the account within one business day or we will close the account, report you to ChexSystems, and perhaps take you to court. If you search this forum, you will read about people who came here after the check was declared fraudulent, trying to figure out what to do. Some came to declare that the MSC should be banned, only to find that it was a scam. Very sad. Often the people who really need the money (students and the elderly) are most easily duped. At least one college student reported that the scam began with a posting on their college job recruitment board.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008