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*** Fraud Alert***
Fake Check Scams: If someone you don't know wants to pay you by check, but wants you to wire some of the money back, beware- it is most likely a scam that could cost you thousands of dollars!
There are many variations of this fake scam- here are 3 examples:
- Give you the first installment on the millions you will receive for agreeing to transfer money from a foreign country to your account for safekeeping
- Buy something you advertised
- Give you an "advance" on a sweepstakes you have won
These scammers often claim to be outside the US, saying they cannot pay you directly, and they will have someone send you a check or money order. The amount of the check or money order may be more than you are owed, so you are instructed to deposit the item and wire the balance. After you have wired the money back to the scammer, you learn that the check or money order has bounced. There is NO legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money to ask you to wire money back.
To report this scam, contact the National Fraud Information Center at:
www.fraud.org or (800) 876-7060.
Jury Duty Scam: In this con, someone calls pretending to be a court official who threateningly says a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you failed to show up for jury duty. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number & date of birth so he/she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Sometimes they even ask for credit card numbers. Give out this information and your identity has just been stolen! This scam has been reported so far in 11 states.
The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their websites, warning consumers about the fraud.
The Many Forms of Account Fraud
Account fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation. Account fraud can come in many forms. Some examples are:
- Checking Account Fraud
- Credit Card Fraud
- ATM Fraud
- Identity Theft
- Electronic Account Fraud
Always be sure to contact your credit union or affected financial institution immediately as soon as you have been a victim of account fraud.
Additional information about fraud is available from:
The National Check Fraud Center at: www.ckfraud.org or (843) 571-2143
The U.S. government's web site on Identity Theft at: www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Internet Fraud Complaint Center at: www.ifccfbi.gov/cf1.asp
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