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Carson City--Nevada Consumer Advocate Eric Witkoski issued a warning to Nevada residents about counterfeit, forged or stolen cashiers' checks being sent as either lottery or sweepstakes winnings or used to purchase internet auction items.
In each case, the recipient is sent what appears to be an authentic-looking check, usually appearing to be either a bank check or cashier's check. In each case the recipient is asked to cash the check, then wire money back to the sender or the sender's agent. If the check is deposited, it will be found to be either fraudulent or stolen in about a week to fourteen days. If money is wired to the sender, the victim is out the amount of the check as well as the money sent.
This scam has been seen in three different versions. The most prevalent is that of the lottery or sweepstakes winner scam. In this case recipients are told that they are the winner of a lottery or sweepstakes and that the check represents the first or initial payment of the prize. Many times the lottery or sweepstakes is located in a different country. The recipient is told that taxes or fees need to be paid before the full amount can be awarded, to immediately cash the check and wire money to a person so that the taxes or fees can be paid. Another common use of forged or counterfeit checks is related to internet auction sales. In this scheme the seller is sent an official-looking check for an amount greater than the sales price of the item. When contacted, the buyer asks the seller to cash the check, then send the difference back to the seller with the item purchased. In this scam the seller is out both the item purchased and any money sent to the alleged buyer.
The third variation is the mystery shopper scam. In this case, the recipient is mailed an unsolicited offer to become a mystery shopper. The recipient is sent an official-looking check for a large sum of money which the seller is told is to be used to make mystery purchases. The recipient is told to keep part of the money for a salary and to wire the excess back to the sender. Later, the check bounces and the recipient is out the amount wired to the scammer and the amount of any purchases which cannot be returned for a refund. In each case, the recipient is sent an official-looking check, usually in the amount of several thousand dollars, and in each case the recipient is instructed to wire money back to the sender or the sender's agent. This is the best identification that the recipient is the target of a scam.
The Nevada Consumer Advocate warns Nevada citizens to never wire money to anyone who is not personally known to the sender. Scammers use wire transfers, usually via Western Union or MoneyGram, because those transfers cannot be traced. The person picking up the money for the scam is many times just someone hired to pick up the money and transfer it to someone else. Money sent by wire transfer cannot be traced or refunded and, if sent out of the country, cannot be retrieved. In almost all of the cases referred to the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection, the payee listed on the check does not match the name of the so-called lottery, sweepstakes or mystery shopping service. This is a quick indication that the checks are probably stolen.
Before cashing a lottery, sweepstakes or mystery shopper check, call the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection first. Whenever receiving a prize notice for a foreign lottery or sweepstakes or from a sweepstakes or contest the recipient has never heard of. call the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection first. If the intended victim calls the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection before cashing the check and sending money by wire transfer, there is a chance to protect the intended victim. The intended victim can be warned of the scam ahead of time and can be warned that any money sent by Western Union or MoneyGram is not recoverable. After money is wired out, there is little the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection can do to help the victim, since the wired money is untraceable, especially if it is wired out of the country.
For more information on how you can help prevent such scams or to respond to illegal deceptive trade practices, contact the Nevada Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection at (775) 684-1180 in northern Nevada, or (702) 486-3194 in southern Nevada.
Carson City--Nevada Consumer Advocate Eric Witkoski issued a warning to Nevada residents about counterfeit, forged or stolen cashiers' checks being sent as either lottery or sweepstakes winnings or used to purchase internet auction items.
In each case, the recipient is sent what appears to be an authentic-looking check, usually appearing to be either a bank check or cashier's check. In each case the recipient is asked to cash the check, then wire money back to the sender or the sender's agent. If the check is deposited, it will be found to be either fraudulent or stolen in about a week to fourteen days. If money is wired to the sender, the victim is out the amount of the check as well as the money sent.
This scam has been seen in three different versions. The most prevalent is that of the lottery or sweepstakes winner scam. In this case recipients are told that they are the winner of a lottery or sweepstakes and that the check represents the first or initial payment of the prize. Many times the lottery or sweepstakes is located in a different country. The recipient is told that taxes or fees need to be paid before the full amount can be awarded, to immediately cash the check and wire money to a person so that the taxes or fees can be paid. Another common use of forged or counterfeit checks is related to internet auction sales. In this scheme the seller is sent an official-looking check for an amount greater than the sales price of the item. When contacted, the buyer asks the seller to cash the check, then send the difference back to the seller with the item purchased. In this scam the seller is out both the item purchased and any money sent to the alleged buyer.
The third variation is the mystery shopper scam. In this case, the recipient is mailed an unsolicited offer to become a mystery shopper. The recipient is sent an official-looking check for a large sum of money which the seller is told is to be used to make mystery purchases. The recipient is told to keep part of the money for a salary and to wire the excess back to the sender. Later, the check bounces and the recipient is out the amount wired to the scammer and the amount of any purchases which cannot be returned for a refund. In each case, the recipient is sent an official-looking check, usually in the amount of several thousand dollars, and in each case the recipient is instructed to wire money back to the sender or the sender's agent. This is the best identification that the recipient is the target of a scam.
The Nevada Consumer Advocate warns Nevada citizens to never wire money to anyone who is not personally known to the sender. Scammers use wire transfers, usually via Western Union or MoneyGram, because those transfers cannot be traced. The person picking up the money for the scam is many times just someone hired to pick up the money and transfer it to someone else. Money sent by wire transfer cannot be traced or refunded and, if sent out of the country, cannot be retrieved. In almost all of the cases referred to the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection, the payee listed on the check does not match the name of the so-called lottery, sweepstakes or mystery shopping service. This is a quick indication that the checks are probably stolen.
Before cashing a lottery, sweepstakes or mystery shopper check, call the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection first. Whenever receiving a prize notice for a foreign lottery or sweepstakes or from a sweepstakes or contest the recipient has never heard of. call the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection first. If the intended victim calls the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection before cashing the check and sending money by wire transfer, there is a chance to protect the intended victim. The intended victim can be warned of the scam ahead of time and can be warned that any money sent by Western Union or MoneyGram is not recoverable. After money is wired out, there is little the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection can do to help the victim, since the wired money is untraceable, especially if it is wired out of the country.
For more information on how you can help prevent such scams or to respond to illegal deceptive trade practices, contact the Nevada Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection at (775) 684-1180 in northern Nevada, or (702) 486-3194 in southern Nevada.