A new scam

[Boxlicker101]

Or maybe not. My wife got a check in the mail today for $2,869.75, which is a nice sum, but not any fortune. It looks valid, but I have serious doubts.

The cover letter, which is not addressed to anybody, says she has won $100,000 in a random drawing. It says this check is an advance payment to help cover the taxes on the prize money, which is silly, because the federal income tax would be about ten times that amount. It also says we should send them $1,870.20 via Western Union to pay taxes and insurance fees on the winnings. The whole thing doesn't even come close to passing the smell test.

I'm thinking about taking it to the bank tomorrow and depositing it, just on the off chance it is valid. I'm also thinking about calling the bank on which it is drawn and asking about it.

Assuming it is a scam, it seems like a rather small payoff for the scammers.

 

[just4friends]

well.... if they send 10,000 of those.. and 1000 respond....

Odds are after a while there check will bounce AND you'll get his with charges while they walk off with your GOOD money.

If it sounds too good to be true...........

Then again.... I LOVE your stories and I PRAY they are all true in some sense.

Or maybe not. My wife got a check in the mail today for $2,869.75, which is a nice sum, but not any fortune. It looks valid, but I have serious doubts.

The cover letter, which is not addressed to anybody, says she has won $100,000 in a random drawing. It says this check is an advance payment to help cover the taxes on the prize money, which is silly, because the federal income tax would be about ten times that amount. It also says we should send them $1,870.20 via Western Union to pay taxes and insurance fees on the winnings. The whole thing doesn't even come close to passing the smell test.

I'm thinking about taking it to the bank tomorrow and depositing it, just on the off chance it is valid. I'm also thinking about calling the bank on which it is drawn and asking about it.

Assuming it is a scam, it seems like a rather small payoff for the scammers.

 

[kromen]

The check will clear, for a few weeks at least. Then it will bounce and the bank will come after you. It's a stolen account check, I had a few come to my house. I guess they stopped with the "international lottery" story.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Yes, it's an old scam that's having quite a revival. They ask you to send them back part of the initial check amount to cover "taxes and fees". The check is for less than $5,000, so the bank doesn't put a hold on it. By the time it's found to be worthless, you're in for the lost amount, and you may face criminal charges.

Remember, you never win a lottery you didn't enter, no prizes come with a request for money back or up front, and if it sounds too good to be true, then it must be a scam.

 

[sr71plt]

"Assuming this is a scam?" hahahahaha

 

[R. Richard]

Or maybe not. My wife got a check in the mail today for $2,869.75, which is a nice sum, but not any fortune. It looks valid, but I have serious doubts.

The cover letter, which is not addressed to anybody, says she has won $100,000 in a random drawing. It says this check is an advance payment to help cover the taxes on the prize money, which is silly, because the federal income tax would be about ten times that amount. It also says we should send them $1,870.20 via Western Union to pay taxes and insurance fees on the winnings. The whole thing doesn't even come close to passing the smell test.

I'm thinking about taking it to the bank tomorrow and depositing it, just on the off chance it is valid. I'm also thinking about calling the bank on which it is drawn and asking about it.

Assuming it is a scam, it seems like a rather small payoff for the scammers.

Turn the check and cover letter over to the FBI. It won't do any good, but it may keep them out of mischief. Turn a copy of the cover letter over to Western Union. At least it will cause Western Union to cease delivering to the address.

 

[bronzeage]

Or maybe not. My wife got a check in the mail today for $2,869.75, which is a nice sum, but not any fortune. It looks valid, but I have serious doubts.

The cover letter, which is not addressed to anybody, says she has won $100,000 in a random drawing. It says this check is an advance payment to help cover the taxes on the prize money, which is silly, because the federal income tax would be about ten times that amount. It also says we should send them $1,870.20 via Western Union to pay taxes and insurance fees on the winnings. The whole thing doesn't even come close to passing the smell test.

I'm thinking about taking it to the bank tomorrow and depositing it, just on the off chance it is valid. I'm also thinking about calling the bank on which it is drawn and asking about it.

Assuming it is a scam, it seems like a rather small payoff for the scammers.

For some strange reason, it is possible to verify an international cashier check's number and the account it was drawn on, but not the amount for which it was issued.

The check could be quite real, but written for $28.69. It takes many weeks, sometimes as much as a month for it to be presented to the issuing account holder. The person who deposits the check will be held responsible for bank fraud.

It does seem like a small payoff, but this kind of thing has been going on for almost 100 years. Don't expect it to end anytime soon.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Scam. Also by depositing the check in your account, the thieves now have you bank and account numbers.

Next thing you know an EFT for all your money, goes to some foreign account that is only valid until the money is deposited. Pfffft, you're broke.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

This is why I shred every unsolicited check I receive in the mail.

 

[Stella_Omega]

yes, it is a scam. If you send money to someone via Western Union, that money is untraceable. And you are 100% liable for it since you are the only person that the transfer is attached to.

I got an email a couple weeks ago from a friend, asking me if I could help someone's sister relocate to my area... they would send me a certified check for the rental deposits and agents fee plus extra for myself. I would pay the agent via western union, which alerted me that this was a scam.

My friend hadn't used that email address for years. I emailed her telling her one of her old addies had been hijacked.

 

[Handley_Page]

Kromen:- The check will clear, for a few weeks at least. Then it will bounce and the bank will come after you. It's a stolen account check, I had a few come to my house. I guess they stopped with the "international lottery" story.


I don't know how or whether your Banks charge fees for doing things, but on the assumption that the cheque is genuine (or even looks it), pay it into a new account, transfer the money to another account (or even another Bank) and then close the first.

Can't claim from an account that no longer existed ??

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Kromen:- The check will clear, for a few weeks at least. Then it will bounce and the bank will come after you. It's a stolen account check, I had a few come to my house. I guess they stopped with the "international lottery" story.


I don't know how or whether your Banks charge fees for doing things, but on the assumption that the cheque is genuine (or even looks it), pay it into a new account, transfer the money to another account (or even another Bank) and then close the first.

Can't claim from an account that no longer existed ??

And that's fraud...ever hear about jail time.

 

[Lisa Denton]

Or maybe not. My wife got a check in the mail today for $2,869.75, which is a nice sum, but not any fortune. It looks valid, but I have serious doubts.

Assuming it is a scam, it seems like a rather small payoff for the scammers.

Just a new trick to an old scam. You deposit the check, all looks well. You send the money to get your additional free, free, free funds, whether its lottery/inheritance/whatever.

They get your money. If its mailed it goes to a PO box disguised to look like a corp office, etc.. Or western union or other electronic mail, its all untraceable.

Your bank then informs you they have been trying to get the funds from the check you deposited, you deadbeat, and that the check is no good, and they may even charge you for the number of times they tried and failed.

Don't bother reporting it, its an old scam, no one is going to investigate it.

It may seem like a small amount for the scammers, but postage is cheap, and out of every couple hundred they mail out some idiot sends them some money.

Throw it in the trash.