This scam has been seen in three different versions, according to a release from Masto’s office. The most prevalent is the lottery or sweepstakes winner scam. In this case, recipients are told they are the winner of a lottery or sweepstakes and the enclosed check represents the first or initial payment of the prize. Many times the lottery or sweepstakes is located in a different country. The recipient is advised that taxes or fees need to be paid before the full amount can be awarded. They are further instructed to immediately cash the check and wire money so that the taxes or fees can be paid and the award can be processed.
“Nevada residents should be alert to counterfeit, forged or stolen cashiers’ checks being sent as either lottery or sweepstakes winnings or used to purchase Internet auction items,” Masto said.
In each case, the recipient is sent what appears to be an authentic-looking check, usually appearing to be either a bank check or cashier’s check. The recipient is asked to cash the check and wire money back to the sender or the sender’s agent. If the check is deposited, it will be found to be either fraudulent or stolen. If money is wired to the sender, the victim will have forfeited the amount of the money sent, any bank charges for the bounced check and any other fees incurred in the transaction.
Another common use of forged or counterfeit checks is related to Internet auction sales. In this scheme the seller is sent an official-looking check for an amount greater than the sales price of the item. When contacted, the buyer asks the seller to cash the check and then send the difference back to the seller with the item purchased. This scam results in the seller being out the item purchased and any money sent to the alleged buyer.
The third variation is the mystery shopper scam, in which case the recipient is mailed an unsolicited offer to become a mystery shopper. The recipient is sent an official-looking check for a large sum of money and is advised to be use a portion of the money to make a mystery purchase. Further, the recipient is instructed to keep part of the money for a salary and to wire the excess back to the sender. Later, the check bounces and the recipient is out the amount wired to the scammer as well as the amount of any purchases which cannot be returned for a refund.
In each case, the recipient is sent an official-looking check, usually in the amount of several thousand dollars and is instructed to wire money back to the sender or the sender’s agent. This is the best identification that the recipient is the target of a scam.
Masto warns Nevada citizens to never wire money to anyone who is not personally known to the sender. Scammers use wire transfers, usually via Western Union or MoneyGram, because those transfers cannot be traced. The person picking up the money for the scam is many times just someone hired to pick up the money and transfer it to someone else. Money sent by wire transfer cannot be traced or refunded and, if sent out of the country, cannot be retrieved. In almost all of the cases referred to the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, the payee listed on the check does not match the name of the so-called lottery, sweepstakes or mystery shopping service. This is a quick indication that the checks are probably stolen.
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