We always hear of these scams where you think you won money or you get a check in the mail and it seems to good to be true and it normally is too good to be true. And if you think these scams happen to other people and not locally, think again. I live in Lafayette and I already got targeted twice in 4 months. Before you cash the check, STOP-Think and remember if this check bounces and is worthless you still are on the hook for the money.
In the last 60 days, I have received close to $10,000 in worthless checks in the mail. I am talking about checks or money orders made out to me in my full name. Plus the checks were sent via registered mail or next day delivery. All seems upright? WRONG!!
I have no idea how these scammers get my information. After doing a little research, I found the crooks steal your information off the web or they buy the names and addresses from another crook. I have no idea how my name got messed into the mess!
First about 6 weeks ago on a Saturday, I had a call to my phone to check my mailbox for a parcel containing a check. I was skeptical yet, I checked the mailbox and there it was, a parcel address to me. Of course, I opened it and there was a money order for $4977.
This money was sent to me for a secret shopper at a local big box store. Automatically I knew this was a scam because I heard of such gimmicks. And the guy calling me with this company had a long list of duties for me to perform. Any person with just a little bit of knowledge could smell the stench of this scam. Yet they target many college students or those who need the cash. And these individuals without thinking, followed the instructions just to find out days later, it was a scam and now they owe the bank or check cashing center the money they took and already spent. This is money they can not afford.
I was given the instructions to cash or deposit the check immediately. Then I was to take a bulk of the money and buy gift cards, take pictures of the front and back of the card (with the codes) and send the picture back to the man through my phone.
And with the $250 remaining, I was supposed to spend the money at the big box store and in 24 hours I’d receive a questionnaire online to fill out about my shopping experiences.
Knowing this was a scam I never cashed the check and the guy called me several times afterward then I blocked his number.
Anytime you receive a check in the mail and informed to cash the check and send the sender money, it’s a SCAM!
And then again, the scam Gods thought they would try one more time. I received another check in the mail and I did receive a call from a gentleman who again, like the other caller told me to check my mailbox for a check. He was correct. This time, for a car wrap. They would pay me $500 a week just to do my normal driving around town. Of course, my automobile would have a wrap on it.
Apparently, with this scam, I was to deposit the check into my account, then I would wait for the wrap installer to call me. He would then tell me how much it would cost for him to wrap my car. I would get these funds from the check I deposited and send him a money order. I would them realize I was scammed when he would not arrive for our wrap appointment. And I am on the hook for the money the bank paid into my account.
Important information has been blocked out.
The bottom line, no one ever gives you something for nothing. You should never cash or deposit a check where the sender of the check wants you to send him money in return. The money you will be sending him is the money from the check you just deposited. If you are in doubt, call the Better Business Bureau.
You are responsible for the checks you cash or deposit. If you cash or deposit a fake check at your bank, you’ll have to repay the bank the value of the check when it eventually bounces. And sadly in almost every case such as this, the checks are made of rubber. Your bank might charge you a fee for cashing or depositing a bad check or close your account.