I refer you to the link I posted earlier with the Met Plod Fraud stuff.
You could accept but tell him you can only take cash, something about being bankrupt.
Somewhere on the web are records of e-mail connversations with some of the 419 scammers which are very amusing, and show what can be dome with a little imagination. Try googling 419
Definitely a scam.
You cash the cheque
you then pay his mate (the shipping company) some of your own money
The cheque then bounces and you are down the amount the 'shipping company' charged you.
Unless you feel like having some fun with them I'd avoid at all costs.
I can't believe folk are advising you to buy a cheap SIM for £10 or £5.
Look online, most Moby firms will send you one for nowt, with 2 ro 3 quid credit on it when you register the number. They are disposable, you need to have lote of different named folk living at your house though, or a cat/kittens that use mobys.