In one version of this scam victims are trying to sell an item on the Internet. The victim is contacted by someone who wants to buy what the victim is selling.

When payment is received, the check is for more than the purchase price. The perpetrator tells the victim to deposit or cash the check, keep what he/she is entitled to, and wire the balance to an overseas contact.

In another version, victims are offered part-time employment. Their job is to receive checks from the U.S. customers of a foreign company. The victim is instructed to deposit the checks in his/her bank account, keep a portion of each check as commission, and wire the balance to the overseas "company."  ...