Fake check scams are constantly targeting unsuspecting people in order to try and steal their money. These scam artists are often able to cheat people out of thousands of dollars.
How it Starts
Fake check scams usually start in one of the following ways. An individual may:
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Offer to buy something that you have for sale.
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Ask you to work from your home.
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Say that you will receive an initial installment on the millions of dollars you are about to receive for transferring money from a foreign account to your own personal account for safekeeping.
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Offer to give you an advance payment on a sweepstakes that you have won.
How it Works
Scammers will often say they are located in a different country and as a result it is too difficult to send the money directly to you. Instead they will have someone else in the country send you the money. Next they will send you a check that is written out for too much money and ask you to wire back the difference. A few day later you find out the scammer's check has bounced and he or she has gotten away with the money you just wired.
Responsibility
You are Responsible. The checks scammers use are often very good forgeries and it is even hard for an experienced teller to know the difference. Keep in mind it can take up to several weeks before a good forgery is discovered. Since you are the one who has interacted with the person giving you the check, you are in the best position to determine how risky the deal is. If the check bounces the bank may be able to take the money you owe them from your own accounts. Additionally law enforcement officials could bring charges against you, the victim, because it can look like you were involved in the scam as well.
How To Protect Yourself
There is never a legitimate reason for you to wire money back to an individual who has given you money. If someone wants to send you a check, insist that it is a cashiers check in the exact amount from a local bank. If you think someone is trying to pull a check scam on you, report it immediately and never deposit the check.
To Find out more information on check scams or report an incident visit the National Consumers League's National Fraud Information Center at www.fraud.org or call 1-800-876-7060.
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Remember to contact CSB anytime you have questions about identity theft, phishing, other types of fraud or you suspect fraudulent activity has occurred. |
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