Posted by MistarellaFL on 6/3/09 2:02pm
Msg #291003

Counterfeit check fraud, OT

Surprise, surprise to me!
I opened up an envelope addressed to me, from Barcelona, Spain, and lo and behold, I found 2 checks made out to me, from 2 different people, but the envelope was postmarked from Barcelona, Spain.
One check was drawn on a New Orleans, LA account, and the other from a Vail, CO account.
One check was $1180.10, the other was for $1960.10.
Sometimes I have my daughter open mail and make deposits for me when I am busy, and I often get larger checks for big weddings.
I'm glad she waited on depositing these, as I had no contract with these folks, and confirmed with the account holders that these checks were counterfeit.
Beware! If it's too good to be true, it ALWAYS is.

Reply by bhb/VA on 6/3/09 2:07pm
Msg #291005

And you'll probably get a phone call.....

or email saying "Oops, we sent them to you in error. Would you please deposit them and keep a little for yourself and wire the balance to the person it was supposed to have gone to?"

Reply by MistarellaFL on 6/3/09 2:17pm
Msg #291007

Re: And you'll probably get a phone call.....

Well, I contacted the account holder on one (google is my friend) and notified the bank on the other (couldn't google the account holder there).
I scanned the check and envelope for Mr. Account Holder #1, and his bank advised him to close that account.
Seems there is so much of this going around, and they really don't have any real remedies yet.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 6/3/09 5:41pm
Msg #291047

I don't see the point...

... of someone sending you these checks out of left field. Did you get a request to send funds back to them? Otherwise, the "scam" doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense....

Reply by MistarellaFL on 6/4/09 8:45am
Msg #291115

Re: I don't see the point...

Me, neither.
But they are counterfeits, confirmed by the account holder and the bank.
Made out to me, by name. So.....like Mike, I don't see the point, since I am the only
"beneficiary" of the counterfeit checks.

Reply by Elizabeth Soliday on 6/4/09 9:20am
Msg #291122

Re: I don't see the point...

I think the bank they are drawn from is fraudulent and when YOUR bank gets a non-sufficient funds notice, they somehow get your account info. Not completely sure about that, but I believe the goal is to get your account number and info.