The Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Department has received a report of a variation of an old scam. According to a Sheriff’s report, a Twentynine Palms woman agreed to take care of someone’s new dogs via an ad on Care.com until the owner moved from Texas to the area. The pet sitter received a check for more than $2,950, and was told after cashing the check, to go to Walmart and transfer the money to a Walmart in Texas to two different names. The victim was then notified by her bank that the check she had received was phony, and she was out the thousands of dollars she had sent to Texas. The Sheriff’s Department reminds residents that if someone sends you a check, especially if it’s for more than the agreed-upon amount, and asks you to send money back to them or someone else, that’s it’s most likely a scam to part you from your money. If you’re a victim of such a scam, contact your bank and the Sheriff’s Department.
