As a public service to all the Charter Captain's out there, I want to make you aware of a scam out to get you. Here is how the scam operates.
You will get contacted by a customer who wants to book some fishing trip(s) a few weeks into the future.
The customer will tell you that they can only pay the reservation deposit by Money Order.
You will then deposit those Money Orders in your bank account.
Some time shortly thereafter, the Customer will inform you of some change of plan and ask that you refund their money.
You, in good faith, return the customer's deposit.
All seems ok, but here is the kicker... If/when the bank finds the Money Orders to be counterfeit, they will hold you responsible (monetarily) and will draw the money from your account that they credited when you deposited the Money Orders in the first place. And, it some times take a while for Money Orders to be identified as counterfeit. Just enough of a time window to allow the thieves to hit you.
The person who TRIED this scam on me contacted me via TEXT from 260-227-3032