Local Residents/Businesses
Losing Money to Internet Counterfeit Scheme Area residents and companies
have been victimized recently by an international scheme aimed at people advertising items on e-bay
or the Internet in general.

It works like this: Someone advertising an item for sale is approached via e-mail with an offer to
purchase the merchandise. They are sent a cashier’s check made out for much more than the asking
price, and then are told by the “buyer” that a mistake was made, the excess amount was meant for
shipping, their agent, or some other reason. The seller is told to wire the balance back and are
given an address. The problem is the check is counterfeit.

If the bank does not catch the scheme when the check is deposited, the seller thinks they have the
money. By the time the truth is discovered by the bank, up to 72 hours later, it’s too late and
the seller is out the cash. There is no recovery. Anyone selling items via the Internet should be
extremely careful of persons identified as foreign nationals, who offer to pay with cashier’s
checks. Banks should counsel people who offer this kind of check for deposit. What makes this
difficult is the check looks domestic and looks real.

Anyone approached in this manner by foreign nationals, especially from West African nations, should
be very skeptical.. It is almost 100% certain that you will receive a bogus check. Report any such
activity to the Better Business Bureau.

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