What could xtian have done to avoid this?Was it to have insisted on being paid cash?How do you tell a genuine bankers cheque from a fake?

In the last two weeks,Inspekta Mwala got conned while house searching with the intention of paying rent. That notwithstanding, Go cops - CID,abstract etc. Get call records. You will go right. Go to the bank and get the cheque details. You will go right yet again. Kick the bank officers to get the information. Double right.(they'll refuse at first). Go put a 2 mm thick sharp pointed stick up the muindi's ass,just for satisfaction. Triple right. Go home and wait for your gadgets.

that's a hard lesson indeed. report to the police and give as much details as possible including the conman's telephone numbers and details of 'that particular device' including serial numbers if possible.... and this is what we should learn: 1. cash to be the first option when transacting- has to be in a safe place. 2. if indeed you have to accept the banker's cheque,walk into the bank with the buyer and witness the cheque being drawn,careful it's not switched into a fake one. 3. know the buyer somehow,especially the work place just incase things go hay-wire. 4.avoid newspaper ads as they attract all sorts of crooks,thieves,liars and cheats and use seasoned brokers or trusted allies. 5. if you share the same bank,transfer of cash is easy and done within minutes. 6. if the buyer is honest and sincere,one will not object to issue a copy of ID incase paying with a cheque and a sale agreement...... and what the heck,you may even ask the buyer to pose for a photo with you!!! bY aNy MeAns NecEsSaRy.....

@Limuruboy.................... 200k?????? just forget about it and digest it as a lesson learned. No way!!! Hata kama wewe ni mdosi aje,jamani? How do you just loose 200k without a fight unless it came as easily? @Xtian,fight,fight,fight and loose fighting for your hard earned cash or equipment!! In some transactions,bank deposit slip is a safer bet! that you can verify immediately using your ATM card before releasing the goods. 'Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything,money is handy.' ~ Groucho Marx.............

@ Christian, With conmen,you can only beat them before their end game(Ask the victims of ponzis,Ben Madoff et al)Otherwise it becomes an expensive exercise whose end is usually out of sight. I'm a firm believer though,that a man is the best judge of his own situation.Decide therefore,if you want to throw good money after bad,how much of it and for how long. Good luck mate. Patience Pays in Guaranteed Checks