Fradulent Check Mail Scam targeting WV Seniors (June 2005)

The local newspaper in Grafton recently reported that residents are being targeted in a mail scam involving fake checks sent to them in the mail. These checks arrive under the guise of lottery winnings from Canada or some other bogus point of origin.

(From the Mountain Statesman: June 27, 2005)

Don’t be a victim of identity theft: protect yourself from mail scams: County Investigator John Hinebaugh warns residents to be on the alert for fraudulent checks in the mail
BY RISË STRAIGHT

GRAFTON – Taylor County residents should be aware of scams that could jeopardize their life savings. John Hinebaugh, Investigator for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of Taylor County would like citizens to be aware of scams that can prey on people through the U.S. mail service.

Recently, Joanna Streets of Flemington received a check in the mail for the amount of $1,998.90. It claimed to be from a lottery, and the amount was sent to her so that she could cover the Canadian taxes. That way, they could release the rest of her winnings to her, which were purportedly $230,000.00.

Streets was suspicious about the check, so she took it to her bank, Bank One of Bridgeport. The bank told her the check was fraudulent and not to cash it, so Streets took the check to the Bridgeport police. They told her that it was fraudulent and she should just throw it away. However, Streets would not be put down that easily. She wanted others to be aware of the dangers that lie in these types of scams.
“I just didn’t want some older person to cash it and have to pay all that money back,” Streets lamented.

She took it to Gary Bolyard of First Community Bank, who called the company from whom the check allegedly came. They immediately told him that the check was fraudulent.

The letter had been mailed to Streets from Canada. It had a number to call, so Streets called the number to see what they had to say. They told her to cash the check and send the money via Western Union.
If she had, Streets would have been in a bind. The check would not clear, and she would have to pay back the money, while the scammers walked away with nearly $2,000.00. It is nearly impossible to trace because it is done through Western Union and if it had been a wire transfer from the bank, they would have had her bank information.
Streets said that at Bank One in Bridgeport, a man had brought in a similar check and the bank begged him not to cash it, but he did anyway. “They took him for over $50,000.00,” she said. A bank official told Streets, “Any time they give you money and want you to send it back, there’s something wrong.”

Streets is not the only Taylor County resident to have received one of these letters. Hinebaugh has received several more letters and checks that purported to give people money. The letters do not have a return address and some have been hand addressed.

One letter was mailed from Canada, but was allegedly from a company in Washington, D.C. and the bank on which the check was written was in Houston, Texas. The check was for $9,662.00.

“There is no such thing as free money,” Hinebaugh remarked. “If you receive one of these letters, contact the post office and local authorities.” While the letter may appear real, Hinebaugh assures, “Federal law states that lotteries cannot solicit through the mail, especially across international boundaries.”

Hinebaugh said that they seem to be getting more people come in with these kinds of scams. “Don’t fall for it. If it looks too good to be true, it is,” Hinebaugh announced.

Mail scams are not the only kind out there preying on innocent victims. There are also scams being conducted via the Internet and telephone. It is good to keep in mind Hinebaugh’s words of wisdom that there is no such thing as free money.

One Internet scam claims to be from a man in Nigeria who needs to send you money to get it out of his country. There are several like this. These are also scams and should be taken as such. Also, if a company sends you an e-mail with a link to their Web site and wants you to enter personal information, do not do it, because companies will not ask for personal information via e-mail. Contact the company to ensure that an e-mail of this nature is from them. By no means should you click on the link and enter your personal information.

A specific e-mail that goes around is one alleging to be from eBay, and it tells you that your account will be suspended if you do not update your billing information. If you click on the link, it looks like an eBay site, but rather it is a copy site, whereby the scammer gets all of your personal information on eBay and can take over your account.

With all the new types of technology out there, it is prudent to guard yourself against predators, who seek to steal your identity. If something looks suspicious, contact the company to confirm its authenticity. Keep yourselves safe, and do not hesitate to contact local authorities if you feel that you have been scammed.