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Fake Check Scams
If someone you don't know wants to pay you by check and wants you to wire a portion of the money back, beware! It's a scam that could cost you thousands of dollars.
Tips for recognizing and avoiding counterfeit check scams.
There are many variations of the counterfeit check scam.
It could start with someone offering to buy something you advertised, pay you to do work at
home, give you an "advance" on a sweepstakes you've supposedly won, or pay the first installment on the millions that you'll receive for agreeing to have money in a foreign country transferred to your account for
safekeeping. Whatever the pitch, the person may sound quite believable.
Counterfeit check scammers hunt for victims. They scan newspaper and online advertisements for people listing items for sale, and check postings on online
job sites from people seeking employment. They place their own ads with phone numbers or e-mail addresses for people to contact them. And they call or send emails or faxes to people randomly, knowing that someone
will take the bait.
They often claim to be in another country.
The scammers say it's too difficult and complicated to send you the money directly from their country, so they'll arrange for someone in the U.S. to send you a check.
They tell you to wire money to them after you've deposited the check.
If you're selling something, they say they'll pay you by having someone in the U.S. who owes them money send you a check. It will be for more than the sale price; you deposit the check, keep what you're owed, and wire the rest to them. If it's part of a work-at-home scheme, they may claim that you'll be processing checks from their "clients." You deposit the checks and then wire them the money minus your "pay." Or they may send you a check for more than your pay "by mistake" and ask you to wire them the excess. In the sweepstakes and foreign money offer, they tell you to wire them money for taxes, customs, bonding, processing, legal fees, or other expenses that must be paid before you can get the rest of the money.
The checks are counterfeit but they look real.
In fact, they look so real that even tellers may be fooled. Some are phony cashiers checks, others look like they're from legitimate business accounts. The companies whose names appear may be real, but someone has dummied up the checks without their knowledge.
You don't have to wait long to use the money, but that doesn't mean the check is good.
Under federal law (Regulation CC), financial institutions have to make the funds you deposit available — usually within one to five business days (sometimes longer), depending on the type of check. But just because you can withdraw the money does not mean the check is good, even if it's a cashiers check. It can take weeks for the counterfeit or forgery to be discovered and the check to bounce.
You are responsible for the checks you deposit. That's because you're in the best position to determine the risk — you're the one dealing directly with
the person who is arranging for the check to be sent to you. When a check bounces, the financial institution deducts the amount that was originally credited to your account. If there isn't enough to cover it, the
financial institution may be able to take money from other accounts you have at that institution, or sue you to recover the funds.
There is no legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money to ask you to wire money back.
If a stranger wants to pay you for something, insist on a cashiers check for the exact amount, preferably from a local credit union or bank, or a credit union or bank that has a branch in your area.
Don't deposit it — report it! Report counterfeit check scams to the
National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch, a service of the nonprofit National Consumers League, at www.fraud.org or (800) 876-7060. The information will be transmitted to
the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Exploding Ink Cartridges
A guy calls a store that sells ink jet cartridges and claims that the cartridges "blew up" all
over him and his 83 year old mother. He is told by the management team to bring the "damaged" ink cartridges back and he can have a refund.
A short time later, a guy shows up with ink all over his hands and all over his shirt. He is
carrying a plastic bag that is soiled with ink stains and claims the exploded ink cartridges are inside. He gives the bag to the associate at the refund desk or register. They don't
want to get their hands covered with ink so they don't look in the bag. The guy gets his refund (usually around $150.00 or so) and departs the store. The associate processes the
refund and throws the plastic bag covered with ink away.
If they had looked inside the bag, they would have discovered that there were no
exploded ink cartridges. Wrapped up in smaller plastic bags they would have found several medium size rocks. Ink was spread on the plastic surrounding the rocks then
they were put into plastic shopping bags. No one would want to get ink everywhere so the rocks are never found. The suspect gets away with cash and the business is left holding the bag.....of rocks.
This scam has been taking place in the Fort Worth, Texas area. A suspect was caught and theft charges have been filed.
eBay Scam
This scam involves an e-mail that looks like it comes from a legitimate source, eBay. If any of you have done business on eBay then you have received e-mail from aw
-confirm@ebay.com. This e-mail was announcing an eBay Contest where you could win a Ford Explorer Tdi. The e-mail stated "All you have to do is to login to 'My Ebay' and
confirm your entrance. After that you will get a Unique Contest Key that will represent you in the draw". It's a scam! Visit this link to learn more! There are several variations
to this. Word to the wise....Use Caution!
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