http://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/article.cfm?ID=18841
Friday, April 15, 2011
By K.A. WAGONER – Staff Writer
When Betty Wagoner of Ferrum received a $3,920 check in the mail, she knew it was “too good to be true,” so she gave the check to a police officer.
Along with the check, Wagoner received a letter, stating that she had won $55,000 because she was chosen at random from customers of Walmart, K-mart, Kohl’s, Safeway or Best Buy.
The letter instructed her to use the check to pay the government taxes of $2,785.
“If you receive a check in the mail that you are not expecting, you should know it’s a scam,” said Investigator Jay Mason with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
“These schemes are very elaborate, and they change all the time, considering all the advances in technology,” Mason said. “And the checks are real checks, so they look authentic. But the routing and account numbers are fictitious.”
“Just use common sense,” Mason added. “If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. You don’t get something for nothing.”
Mason advises anyone who receives letters with checks like this in the mail to “Google” the telephone number, names and business names listed on the letter. This will usually alert the recipient to a scam, he said.
There are also numerous websites dedicated to educating the public to scams, including LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com, Mason said.
The website was constructed to prevent consumers from becoming victims of internet fraud schemes, Mason said. The website also includes a test to measure online safety habits and allows consumers to shares online experiences related to internet fraud.
Anyone who does not have access to a computer should contact the sheriff’s office at 483-3000 to have suspicious correspondence investigated, Mason said.
“Keep in mind that if you send money outside the county, we do not have the jurisdictional authority to investigate those crimes,” Mason said. “Most of the scams originate outside the United States, so even the federal authorities cannot investigate.”
“So your money is gone, and you cannot get it back,” Mason added.
If you have been a victim of a scam, you can register a complaint at www.IC3.com, the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
The center recommends consumers look for the following red flags:
“Being asked for personal financial information, such as bank account information or credit card numbers, via the telephone or email.
“Using high-pressure sales tactics so as not to give you time to think about the information you are providing.
“Being told you have won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes.
“Being asked to help transfer funds out of a foreign country for a share of the money.
“Being offered help in repairing credit scores for an advanced fee.
“Receiving a counterfeit cashier’s check or money order for more than the cost of the item you are selling.
IC3 reminds consumers to be vigilant:
“Take time to research any offers you receive over the internet, telephone or mail.
“Do not deposit any checks that are supposed winnings from a lottery or sweepstakes, especially if you did not enter one.
“Do not provide sensitive, personal or financial information unless you know who you are dealing with.
“Consult friends and family or a trusted advisor before making any major financial decisions.
