DeVoss Auto Repair in Richmond says they were contacted twice this month by the scam artist,s but didn't fall prey to their tricks.

[...]

Here's how it works: the hearing impaired customer types in their question and they dial into the relay operator who then contacts the business and acts as an intermediary.

In this scam, using a phone relay system, the scam artist called DeVoss Auto stating that he wanted to buy a used car in Florida and he wanted it delivered to Richmond to make any necessary repairs.

But the caller said the person delivering the car would not accept credit cards and asked DeVoss to write a check and mail it to the tow service, money that the caller said he would reimburse DeVoss with his own credit card.

With a transparently ridiculous advance check fraud angle like that, we can understand why the scammer would want to find something to make his case more appealing. We'll never understand why he though going through an anonymous third party via the telephone was a good idea, though.

Update: It turns out, this is not as wacky or uncommon as I thought. Our own Laura Northrup posted a very informative piece related to Nigeria-based telephone relay service scams earlier this summer: "Wells Fargo Keeps Hanging Up On Your Deaf Grandmother"

"Better Business Bureau Warns of Scam Artists Posing as Deaf People" [WTVR via BBB]
(Photo: Sam Ruaat)

This octogenarian sent $60,000 to scammers in the Dominican Republic while they strung him along with promises of riches.

The promise of foreign lottery winnings, sweepstakes and other riches that arrived by mail proved too tempting for John as they promised him hundreds of thousands - and sometimes millions - of dollars he was sure he was going to receive.

They came with convincing company or corporation titles, such as the Diabetes Association. Upon further investigation by family members, something always proved to be amiss.

But John wouldn't heed their warnings that he was being taken.

And there always was that catch, that small amount of money he would need to send to secure his winnings.

At one point, the scammers managed to get John to check himself out of a hospital in order to show up for a fake meeting at a Walmart parking lot. Another time, they sent him to a Bank of America branch to inquire about an account in his name; no account had been set up.

We suggest you bookmark the article for future reference. Better yet, print it out or copy & paste it, and then give it to your relatives (of all ages) with the warning that nobody EVER wins money from foreign lotteries. EVER. That may or may not be true, but we'd rather they err on the side of financial self-sufficiency than be left homeless and penniless from chasing a phantom lottery that seems to grow in value the more desperate they get.

Check out the tips and references on this post for more info on how to protect your loved ones from foreign lottery scams. You can also show them this video clip:

"Scammers leave 82-year-old Sun Citian homeless, penniless" [YourWestValley.com] (Thanks to Tiffany!)

RELATED
"How To Protect Susceptible Relatives From Scams"

McGhee went to the bank to cash the check. Then the police showed up and she couldn't understand why she was under arrest.

Bremer Bank said that if they suspect a check is fraudulent, they will contact the police.

McGhee spent a night in jail before she could return home to her three kids.

Although there are legitimate mystery shopping gigs, you should be cautious of anything that requires you to pay money before you earn any, and run in the opposite direction from any person/company that sends you a check to cash and return funds from. Here are some handy posts to help you find out more:

"12 Signs Of A Mystery Shopping Scam"
"Mystery Shopper Scam Now Comes Bundled With Check Fraud Scam!"
"Here's What A Mystery Shopper Scam Looks Like"
"Mystery Shopping Company Wants Me To Test A Wire Service By Sending Them Money"

And if you want more info on how to find a legitimate mystery shopper job, start here:

"FTC - The Secrets of Mystery Shopping Revealed"

"'Mystery Shopper' Scam Victim Spends Night In Jail" [WCCO]

Her relative, a recent widower, started off by sending checks for $30 or less for fake lotteries and sweepstakes. Eventually he fell for a $4k check fraud scam, and then later sold his car and wired that money to another scammer.

For months, family members wrestled with what to do. When confronted, our relative would acknowledge he had been ripped off and promise it would end — but then he would succumb again, a pattern experts say is common.

The debate ended this spring when our relative, unable to cash out his life-insurance policy, was conned into selling his car and wiring $4,000 to Costa Rica. In May, with his three children and a stepson present, he acknowledged to a judge that he had been financially scammed. The judge granted guardianship to two of his children, taking away his right to manage his own affairs.

The family went to lunch with him, then dismantled his cellphone and redirected his mail to another state. A few hours later, he demanded his phone back. He wanted to call some "friends" who had some money waiting for him.

One thing that becomes clear from her relative's behavior, as well as from this New Yorker profile on a psychotherapist who fell for scams repeatedly, is that regardless of mental capacity, some people seem far more likely to fall for the same cons over and over no matter how rationally you explain the techniques to them. The WSJ has a sidebar that provides some tips on how to help protect these high-risk people, including:

• Provide a printed script to use with telemarketers and leave it by the phone;
• re-route all mail to a post office box and go through it with the recipient;
• change the victim's phone number;
• find other activities to fill up the victim's time so s/he doesn't feel as compelled to engage with friendly scammers (they'll spend countless hours grooming the mark to think of them as friends).

They also point out that AARP has a toll-free number you can call— 1-800-646-2283 —to report fraudulent activity, as well as a special website called AARP Fraudfighters.

"A Family's Fight to Save an Elder From Scammers" [WSJ] (Thanks to Joanne!)
(Photo: m4rpk)

We can't believe people still fall for this crap, but since they do, here's yet another example of what to watch out for. Personally, we like the generic stamps at the bottom. They should have picked up a "CONFIDENTIAL" stamp at the office supply store while they were at it, for added stampy entertainment.

It's a letter with a check enclosed, telling my husband that he's a big winner in the Gaming Association of America. Luckily we're both savvy on this and decided to send this into you, as well as call our local police department. This seems that it is coming from Canada and it's hitting us [in Ohio]. Every bit of Googling I've done on this seems to point that this has only arisen over the last two days.

This is what it says:

Tech City Global Services Inc.
1050 Revenue Avenue
Edmonton, AB T3L 2K4, Canada
Tel: 1-778-863-2655

April 30, 2009
Claim #: TCG/01823478 - 09

Final Notice

We are pleased to advise you that you are one of the winners in the "All American Sweepstakes Drawing" held among randomly selected individuals in North America in a bid to promoting family well-being. This drawing was held on April 24, 2009 (ironically when Chrysler was told to prepare bankruptcy filings) under the auspices of GAMES/ GAMING ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA.

An Entry Slip with serial number 4816794 attached to your name drew the lucky number winning numbers 11-67-48-55-23.

You are entitled to the sum of US $350,000.00 (Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars).

Payable to you by CERTIFIED CHECK, and will be delivered to you by you by our special courier company. You are advised to contact your Claims Agent:

LOVET FRANKLIN 1-778-863-2655

Monday through Saturday....8am... To....6pm (Pacific Standard Time), for further instructions on how to claim your big winnings.

Enclosed is a check of US $4985.00 to which you will be able to pay the non-government service tax agent (GST), payable to your tax agent by MONEYGRAM as stated below:

Tax agent: Julian Gifton
Block H, 9223 E. Revenue Ave.
Edmonton, AB T3L 8M6, Canada

Tax amount: US Money Gram or Western Union

DO NOT ACT ON THIS LETTER UNTIL YOU SPEAK WITH YOUR CLAIMSAGENT LOVET FRANKLIN who will advise you on the modalities of claiming your winnings.

Accept our congratulations.

James A. Gafield (Promotions Coordinator)
APPROVED (stamped) FINAL NOTICE (stamped)

On Oct. 7, 2008, the firm alleges, it received a "Citibank Official Check" for $367,000, and the firm deposited it into its Interest on Lawyers Trust Account at Sterling Bank in Houston.

A Buckley, White, Castaneda & Howell "employee telephoned Citibank and verified that check number 310096829 in the amount of $367,500 was paid. The firm relied upon this unconditional representation in allowing a wire transfer of $182,500 to a supplier of [the Japanese company] in Hong Kong," the firm alleges in the petition.

On Oct. 10, despite Citibank's "unconditional representation," Sterling Bank informed the firm that the check had been returned as "counterfeit," the firm alleges in the petition. The firm alleges Sterling Bank drained the firm's IOLTA account — taking more than $100,000 — and took $77,000 from the firm's operating account to cover the wire transfer.

...

The firm seeks $182,500 in actual damages for Citibank's alleged negligence and negligent misrepresentation, and it also seeks a minimum of $367,000 in punitive damages.

One of the most frustrating things about advance fee fraud is that banks treat is as a problem for the banking customer and refuse to take any responsibility in it. If they did, they'd probably work harder to prevent it, by doing things like warning customers not to access "available" funds unless they really trust the writer of the check, and speeding up their verification process to identify fraudulent checks faster.

This lawsuit won't address all of those issues, obviously, but we'll be interested to see whether or not Citibank is held responsible for its role in the scam.

"Lawyers Warned to Be Wary of Client E-Mail Scams" [Law.com]
(Photo: stan)

My brother went to the bank last Friday to talk to the branch manager about his situation which I emailed you about 2 weeks ago. The bank reported the check as fraud, not my brother. His account was cancelled because it was opened with a bad check, and he was charged $10 for depositing a bounced check. There was nothing that was entered as a negative mark on his credit report, and the case is pretty much closed.

The manager even went so far as to type up and sign a memo explaining that it was not my brothers fault and that there should be nothing against him on his credit report.

The Wachovia branch manager also offered to open a new account for him.

So, phew! None of the bad things that could have happened to Fred's brother actually happened, like:

• The bank could have pressed fraud charges against him.
• He could have been reported to the FBI.
• A report could have been sent to Chexsystems and made it hard for him to get a new bank account or keep his new one.

PREVIOUSLY: Always Look A Gift Check In The Mouth (Photo: Getty)

My brother who is a junior at college sent out a bunch of applications for college grants and other sources of funding to pay for his education. Late this summer he received a check in the mail sent to him from one of the organizations that he sent an application to. The check wasn't huge, but the $3500 would come in handy, and certainly would have been a huge help in paying for his books, and housing. When the check actually came in the mail it was just a check, nothing else, no letter of congratulations, explanation or anything else telling him why he had received the money...

I told him he should open up a new bank account so that if it was a fake check, any possible thief's would not get his information and take the rest of the money from his account. He just found out that I was right. He got a phone call from the bank (Wachovia) letting him know that the check was a fake, and that his account (which only contained the money from that one check) was closed due to fraud. They also told him that he has been reported to the FBI, and that the information would be noted on his credit report.

He wasn't really able to get any clear answers from the bank which more or less gave him a corporate run around by not answering anything. I was wondering if it would be a negative thing on his credit report, or if it is just a fraud notice that was placed there. If it is a negative mark against him what can he do to get it removed. Also what are the possible
damages he could face if it was actually fraud.

First off, I hope your brother didn't take any money out of the account, otherwise he's going to have to pay it back.

He should check out his credit report to see what if anything got reported - annualcreditreport.com lets you check all your credit reports for free. I think the only thing they would put there is that his account was closed. If money was taken out, then the report will show that the account was closed in the negative. That will be a "minus" on the credit report, and not something that your brother will be able to dispute and get taken off.

I'm surprised the check didn't come with a letter requesting that a portion of it be mailed somewhere else. That's usually how the scam that this sounds like, advance fee fraud, operates. Maybe that part got lost in the mail.

Opening a new account just for the check was half-smart, and all stupid. It would have been better to have just asked the organization for more information and make the determination from that, rather than open a checking account for a check that the two of you had a pretty decent idea could be bogus. Provided he didn't take out any money from the account, your brother was protected in case the check turned out to be fake, but if the bank decided to be hardasses, they can press charges for check fraud against your brother. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

(Photo: Getty)

1. Don't write checks.

Here's the reason: If I write a check at Walgreens or CVS, I'm leaving that check behind with the clerk. And on that check is my name, address, phone number, my bank's name and address, my bank account number, routing number, and my signature. And if that store clerk writes down my driver's license on the front of the check, in nine states—including the one I live in—that's my Social Security number, too. Then, next to it he writes my date of birth.

"Well, I don't get that check back. So I don't know if CVS destroyed the check, if they put it in a warehouse for seven days or 30 days. What I do know is that anyone who sees the front of that check has more than enough information to draft on my bank account.

2. Make sure the IRS cashed your tax check. Crafty thieves look for envelopes addressed to the IRS and, like resourceful squirrels, rip out the delicious fruit inside and claw off the IRS' name and replace it with their own.

3. Don't put checks in your mailbox. "That's like putting the flag up [for fraudsters] to come get my mail." Entrust your check-filled envelopes to the post office.

4. Treat your checkbook like cash. Leaving a checkbook exposed in your car is like hanging a sign on your windows reading "Smash Me!"

5. Balance your checkbook, or at least keep an eye on your online bank statement:

About 51 percent of Americans do not reconcile their bank statement—they don't even open it. Banks love this because we have a law in the United States called Article 3, Section 406 of the Uniform Commercial Code. It says that you have 30 days from receipt of your statement to notify the bank of any discrepancies that may appear on your statement. If you don't do that, then the bank has no liability to pay you.

Our online banking setup keeps us from hunting down the checkbook lurking somewhere in our apartment. Do people still use checks?

5 Ways to Avoid Being a Check-Fraud Victim [U.S. News & World Report]

(In an "overpayment scheme" you agree to sell an item for a small amount of money like, $75, to a scammer posing as an interested customer. The scammer sends you a fake check for a large amount of money, then asks you to send back the difference. You do it, and the check turns out to be fake. Old as the hills.)

"The check was drawn against HSBC bank," the reader wrote. "I called their support line and explained the situation. They told me to deposit the check and see if it cleared. I asked 'Let me get this straight. I know the check is fake. You know it's fake. Yet you are telling me to deposit it and commit a felony?' 'Well sir,' they said 'we can't tell you if it's fake or not until you deposit it.' 'I know it's fake. I've told you it's fake. Someone is creating counterfeit checks drawn on your bank.' 'Sir, we can't know that until you deposit it.' Pathetic."

The reader then tried to report the fraud to the company whose account information was faked on the check - a New York City foreign exchange dealer, not all of whom are above suspicion themselves. "I was told pretty much the same thing by them - I should go ahead and try to cash it. What the heck is going on? Supposedly these people are concerned with check fraud and theft, yet they tell me to break the law by trying to cash a fake check!"

I spent almost an hour on the phone with the bank and the rep for the foreign exchange outfit. Neither really gave a damn. Now I'm wondering who's the bigger fool — the person who falls for these scams, or the person who tries to fight back."

To report a check fraud crime, contact your local FBI field office. For example, if you are in Chicago, you would call the Chicago Division Headquarters at (312) 421-6700. It might not turn into an episode of Law & Order or anything, but you'll know that you've done your best.

Cash Fraudulent Check, Says HSBC [Info World]