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Tapeworm;1271943]I say scam
The Scam:
There are many variations of the fake check scam, but the common thread is a stranger proposing to send the victim a check and have the victim wire money in return. âIt may start with someone offering to buy something you advertised for sale, pay you to work at home, or give you an advance on a sweepstakes you won,â explained Susan Grant, director of NCLâs National Fraud Information Center and Internet Fraud Watch programs. âWhatever the set-up is, the bottom line is if someone you donât know wants to pay you by check but wants you to wire money back, itâs a scam.
The checks sent to victims are forgeries, but theyâre so realistic that even bank tellers may be fooled. By the time the checks bounce, the victims have already wired the money to the crooks. Because bank customers are responsible for the checks they deposit, the victims of these scams are left to repay the bank the money they withdrew against the bad check.
âFederal law requires banks to make the funds you deposit available quickly, but itâs important for consumers to know that just because you can withdraw the money doesnât mean the check is good,â said Edward Yingling, executive vice president for ABA. âWe want to help prevent victimization by alerting consumers and bank personnel to this fraud.ââ