Believe it or not, a lot of people still use counterfeit checks for scams. Fraudsters are well aware of the fact that a fake check can be easily made to look completely legitimate and they exploit this to the max.
Lately, they use fake checks and instruct consumers to deposit them in their personal accounts, then send a portion of the proceeds to someone right away, according to NBC News, citing John Breyault, who runs the National Consumers League’s Fraud.org website.
Always ask questions when it comes to such ‘offers’
In order for the scam to take place, victims should send the money through a service like Western Union or Money Gram, but some of them are also told to acquire prepaid debit cards or gift cards, which can be used to buy stuff.
After the back discovers that the check is fake, something which can last even for weeks, the deposit is eventually removed from the victim’s checking account. However, the scammer already got the money!
Fake checks scams are the second most popular scams of the moment, after home improvements scams, according to a study conducted by the Better Business Bureau.
No matter the sum, you shouldn’t lose it!
“This is definitely a very, very serious concern right now,” said Emma Fletcher, director of scam and fraud initiatives at the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust. “The typical loss to a scam that’s reported to us is about $275, but with fake check scams the median loss is almost $1,500. That’s a lot of money,” she added.
Men between 18 and 24 are the most prone to fall for a check scam, especially students, military families and veterans.
In order to avoid such situations, make sure you verify all elements of the check, as well as the person asking you to help him/her which something that could look like a scam, in order to avoid an unpleasant situation. And also, remember: if it’s too good to be true, it must be fake!