The only advice I can give you is take the check to the police. I got the same email on April 5th and did some research and came across this site. The e-mail sounded really suspicious to me. DO NOT Deposit the check!! From reading the responses, the check will bounce and you end up paying for EVERYTHING. If he contacts you asking about the money, tell him you took it to the police and you know it is a scam. Maybe someone can catch this guy!
I wish I was smart and did the research I am doing now about this... I got [***] I deposited the check and pay his bills with it, No I am out 2,500. Yup I'm the dumb one...My bank wont protect me or anything so I have to pay the bank back 2,500 or it goes to a collection agency... This suck. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the situation and why people would think to screw over innocent people.
Do you bank with bank of america? Or another bank, because the same scam happened to me, but they didn't put a hold on my account which I was pissed about.
I thought this was real, actually, but had my doubts. When I searched the name, it seemed legit. But he signed the e-mail with the name "Anthony Benton". It's definitely a scam, I received the exact same e-mail. Bummer.