The Cheque Scam Warning

Silverman Helps a woman who correctly feared her deposit would end up being more of a  big withdrawal.

Here’s a look at how the so-called European cheque scam works.

You receive an email, a letter or a phone call telling you that you’ve won something (even though you didn’t enter) or that you’ve been chosen for a special offer from an overseas company that will pay you some money.

A cheque arrives, along with a letter asking you to deposit it to your bank account and help them process it to clear troublesome legal channels. You get to keep a percentage for yourself and then send the rest back.

You do it in good faith, but you’re the only one acting that way. The cheque is actually either stolen or a forgery and when the bank discovers it, you’re on the hook for the whole amount.

Another version of the same scam goes like this:

Someone responds to your classified ad, in which you’re selling something. They make out a cheque and send it to you, but you suddenly realize it’s made out for too much money.

So you let them know. They appreciate your honesty and tell you to cash it anyway and send them the difference. In the end you wind up with the same result as the first scenario. The document is worthless and you’re out the cash.

If you think you’ve been the victim of this kind of scam or know someone who has, contact PhoneBusters, a fraud fighting organization partially run by the RCMP.

Here’s how to get into contact with them (no cheque required!)

Internet: www.phonebusters.com

Toll Free: 1-888-495-8501

Overseas and Local:  1-705-495-8501

Toll Free Fax Number: 1-888-654-9426

Fax Number (Overseas and Local): 1-705-494-4755

Mailing Address:
Box 686
North Bay, Ontario P1B 8J8
E-mail: info@phonebusters.com

Copies of Advanced Fee Letter Fraud (419 / West African / Nigerian Letters) should be emailed directly to: wafl@phonebusters.com.