Attention: There have been numerous reports of citizens being victims of check fraud in our neighborhood. Please be aware of the problem and alert for any suspicious signs of fraud. Here are some current examples of reports that have passed through the station.
Example 1:
The victim was at the Stonestown Galleria mall at 10:30am and was appreciated by two suspects who asked for help cashing a check because they had lost their wallets. The suspects offered to give the victim a cash reward if they were able to help out. After agreeing, the victim entered a bank located within the mall to deposit a $1900.00 check that was given by the suspects. Then, the victim withdrew the maximum amount allowed from his own account, which was $500.00. The suspects insisted that they needed more cash and offered to drive the victim to Safeway to withdrawal more more. However, the victim refused for safety reasons and a compromise was reached to use a taxi instead. Once at Safeway, the victim withdrew $1400.00 in two separate $700.00 transaction. The suspects urged the victim to withdraw even more but the victim was unable to, due to his bank’s rules. It was not until later that victim was notified that the check was fraudulent and could not be honored. The victim is currently out $1900.00 with no information on how to make contact with the suspects or how to retrieve his lost money.
Example 2:
The suspect stopped a victim in the middle of the street and asked if the victim could help out because the suspect’s bank account was too new to accept a check deposit. In return, the suspect offered cash for their assistance. The victim agreed to deposit the offered check and withdrew cash from their personal bank account as the suspect requested. When the bank refused to cash the check due to fraudulent and to honor the amount, the victim was unable to retrieve any of the money they lost.
Remember! If you are asked to cash a check and send money through Western Union or Money Gram—or if the offer is “too good to be true,” it’s likely a scam.
Here are some other scams:
- Internet sales: You are selling an item on the Web and the buyer sends a check for more than the purchase amount. They require you to wire back the difference.
- Lottery winner: You are notified by email that you have won a lottery but have to wire transfer fees, taxes or provide your Social Security number and/or details of your bank accounts or credit cards in order to receive the “winnings.” Or, you are mailed a counterfeit check for your “winnings,” but are asked to wire fees or taxes back before you can receive the full payment.
- Secret shopper: You respond to an ad looking to hire people to act as secret shoppers. You are mailed a counterfeit cashier’s check for a large amount and are told to cash it at a bank or credit union. You’re told to go pose as a customer, and wire the money from the counterfeit check to a “relative,” who is actually a scammer.
- Subletting: You post an ad seeking a subletter for your apartment. An “interested renter” sends you a check for more than the requested amount. Then say they have to cancel their plans and ask you to wire back the difference or request that you send money to a third party to pay moving expenses or tuition. The original check is returned unpaid, often after a week or more, and you have lost all of the money you wired.
Never use your account to cash a check for a stranger, even if you think you are doing a favor. If the check turns out to be fake or bounces, remember, you are responsible for items deposited into or cashed against your accounts. Various banks will have their own rules and regulations but typically a check will take 3 – 10 days before funds, if any, can be transferred and deposited.