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On Your Side: Check Scams in Your Mailbox
posted 08/08/08
5:43 pm
ANCHOR:
7 ON YOUR SIDE IS GETTING BOMBARDED WITH CALLS FROM VIEWERS WHO ARE RECEIVING LARGE CHECKS IN THE MAIL. BEWARE, IF YOU DEPOSIT IT YOUR ACCOUNT COULD BE DRAINED. ROSS MCLAUGHLIN EXPLAINS.
STORY:
Mary Williams/Senior:"Give me this thing.The letter, the letter, give me the letter."
IT'S A LETTER SAYING ELOIS COLE HAD WON A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS..
Elois Cole/Senior: "My name's on the check."
BUT HER FRIEND MARY WILLIAMS KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP.
Mary Williams/Senior:"I think it's a scam."
YUP. SHE'S RIGHT.
Mary Williams/Senior:"I told her. Hmm hmm."
THIS 35 HUNDRED DOLLAR CHECK IS SUPPOSED TO PAY TAXES ON THE SO CALLED LOTTERY WINNINGS. JUST DEPOSIT IT AND WIRE 3 GRAND BACK..OH BUT TAKE A LOOK AT THIS IT'S A BIG SECRET...DON'T TELL ANYBODY.
Mary Williams/Senior:"The check looks like it's real."
WHICH IS WHY MANY PEOPLE GET TAKEN.
Elizabeth Hone/FTC: "It is striking how many people respond to that." Elizabeth Hone/FTC:"Wow"
ELIZABETH HONE SEES BOXES OF THIS STUFF EVERY YEAR. PROMISES OF BIG WINNINGS AND PHONY CHECKS..THE THIRD MOST REPORTED COMPLAINT TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. SO MUCH SO LOCAL BANKS ARE FINALLY CATCHING ON.
Ross:"Remember that check?"
PHILIP DE ORIO STOPPED ELOIS BEFORE SHE COULD DEPOSIT IT.
Philip De Orio/Wachovia Bank:"It doesn't scan."
Ross:"It doesn't scan?"
Philip De Orio/Wachovia Bank:"No."
BUT MANY DO GO THROUGH BECAUSE THE CULPRITS FORGE ACTUAL ACCOUNT NUMBERS. BUT IF YOU DEPOSIT IT YOU'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE.
Elizabeth Hone/FTC:"Basic message stop think. You wouldn't give money to somebody on the street who said if you give me 10 dollars I can give you a winning lottery ticket for sure."
YOU SHOULD NEVER PAY MONEY UP FRONT ON LOTTERY WINNINGS. IT CAN TAKE 30 DAYS TO DISCOVER THE FRAUDULENT CHECK. AND NEVER WIRE FUNDS TO SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW. AND IF YOU "SUPPOSEDLY" HIT THE LOTTERY FOR SOMETHING YOU NEVER ENTERED...
Mary Williams/Senior:"Cut em up and put em in the trash. Put them in the trash because they're not real."
ROSS MCLAUGHLIN IN STUDIO:
KNOW WHO YOU ARE DEALING WITH..NEVER WIRE MONEY TO STRANGERS. THE CHECK SCAM IS ALSO PLAYED ON PEOPLE SELLING THINGS... DON'T ACCEPT A CHECK FOR MORE THAN THE SELLING PRICE AND GET TRICKED INTO WIRING THE DIFFERENCE.. IT'S BETTER TO ASK FOR A CHECK DRAWN ON A BANK WITH A LOCAL BRANCH SO YOU CAN PERSONALLY VERIFY THE FUNDS.
IF YOU NEED HELP GO TO WJLA.COM AND CLICK ON "7 ON YOUR SIDE" OR CALL OUR TOLL FREE HOTLINE..866-236-3401.
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