Scammers tried to fool a Joshua Tree resident into giving them nearly $1,700 recently through a check-cashing scam. A check-cashing scam starts when the victim receives a realistic check or money order as overpayment for merchandise or a secret shopper scheme, with the request the victim deposit the check, and send the remaining cash to someone else. By the time the victim discovers the check is phony, it’s too late, and they are out the cash. Managing editor Tami Roleff offers the following tips from the U.S. Postal Service on how to avoid being a victim of a check-cashing scam…
To avoid being a victim of a check-cashing scheme, know the scenario of a potential scam. Think about it—there is no legitimate reason why anyone would give you a check or money order and ask you to send cash anywhere in return. Be aware that just because you can get the cash quickly—usually in one to five days—doesn’t mean the check or money order is good. Crooks take advantage of the fact that counterfeits can take weeks—even months—to discover. By then you’ve sent the money and have to pay it back to your bank. Typically, phony checks and money orders are so realistic-looking that even bank tellers can be fooled. Only cash a check or money order from a person or business you know or trust. The best way to avoid being a victim is to be cautious. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
CHECK-CASHING SCAM VICTIMIZES JOSHUA TREE WOMAN
