Fake Check Scam
Many of us use popular websites such as eBay and Craigslist to buy and sell merchandise. Yet even experienced sellers are being victimized by money order scams. The way it works is that a buyer (usually from outside the county) agrees to purchase your merchandise, then sends you a money order for an amount in excess of the agreed upon price. The seller is then told that a mistake has been made and the money order received by the seller was intended for a different purchase. The seller is asked to deposit the money order, deduct the agreed upon price, then refund the balance to the buyer via Western Union.
While it sounds innocent enough, in reality the money order was a counterfeit. Yet because the copied paper looks so realistic, the scam is not uncovered until the fake money order is submitted to the “Issuer” bank for collection. By that time, the money you sent via Western Union, your merchandise, and the scammer are long gone. Because the ultimate responsibility to know where checks and money orders are coming from rests with the consumer, one needs to be especially careful.
To avoid such scams, make sure you never send money to anyone you can’t identify. Even if a refund is indicated, be sure the buyer’s funds clear first before transferring any money in return. Also, beware of emails pretending to be from a known source, asking you to enter or confirm personal information.
If you have been a victim a fake check scam, please contact us to discuss your legal options.