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Scams target area residents
By JUSTIN STORY Staff Writer
An Internet scam involving counterfeit money orders sent to Nigeria and another scam involving fake cashier's checks and fictional lottery winnings have targeted Maysville residents in recent weeks, according to the Maysville Police Department.
Maysville Police Detective Ken Fuller said he was contacted by one victim two weeks ago who lost nearly $5,000 from the scheme involving counterfeit money orders.
US Bank contacted the police department last week after they learned that they had lost a few thousand dollars in a similar scam, said Fuller.
This scam originates on the Internet, said Fuller, and victims are asked by someone they have met through e-mail or on-line chat rooms to cash money orders sent to the victims and wire the cash back to the scammer.
Fuller said the scam artist in the cases he has investigated claims to live in Nigeria, where American postal money orders cannot be cashed.
The victims are asked to cash the money orders and deposit a small portion of the orders in a new account at their local bank.
By the time officials can confirm that the money orders are counterfeit, the victims have already sent the money abroad and the bank will be expecting to collect on its loss.
"When the individuals set up these accounts and cash the money orders, they're responsible to the bank," said Fuller. "This has been going on in other states."
Police say that packages containing the fake money orders will have a city in Nigeria listed as the return address, but investigations usually find the packages have originated within the U.S.
This scam has been successful at finding new victims because the money orders look authentic to the untrained eye, according to police.
"These money orders look real, they have the hologram and everything on them," said Fuller.
The U.S. Postal Service is best equipped to determine if a money order is counterfeit by looking at the serial number.
Police say fake money orders have serial numbers that have not been issued by the Postal Service.
If the victims are unable to repay the bank for the money they lost, they can be charged with fraud.
"We've had two other cases in Mason County where the victims chose to pay the bank and save the embarrassment," said Fuller.
A second scam regarding fraudulent money orders has ensnared one victim in Maysville recently.
This scam is initiated through the mail, when the victim receives a letter from a company based in Ottawa, Canada.
Enclosed with the letter is a counterfeit money order for $4,580, which the victim is asked to cash and mail back to Canada so that the victim may receive thousands of additional dollars in lottery winnings.
"After several attempts in notifying you ... we have secured for you through one of our financial sponsors the required amount of $4,580, which is meant for paying the taxes and charges regarding your recent winning notification," the letter opens.
As in the other scheme, the money orders appear to be genuine, but cashing them can lead to criminal charges for the victim if the money is not repaid to the bank. Police said these scams have often targeted the elderly.
Contact Justin Story at Justin.Story@lee.net or 564-9091, ext. 276
Maysville Police Detective Ken Fuller said he was contacted by one victim two weeks ago who lost nearly $5,000 from the scheme involving counterfeit money orders.
US Bank contacted the police department last week after they learned that they had lost a few thousand dollars in a similar scam, said Fuller.
This scam originates on the Internet, said Fuller, and victims are asked by someone they have met through e-mail or on-line chat rooms to cash money orders sent to the victims and wire the cash back to the scammer.
Fuller said the scam artist in the cases he has investigated claims to live in Nigeria, where American postal money orders cannot be cashed.
The victims are asked to cash the money orders and deposit a small portion of the orders in a new account at their local bank.
By the time officials can confirm that the money orders are counterfeit, the victims have already sent the money abroad and the bank will be expecting to collect on its loss.
"When the individuals set up these accounts and cash the money orders, they're responsible to the bank," said Fuller. "This has been going on in other states."
Police say that packages containing the fake money orders will have a city in Nigeria listed as the return address, but investigations usually find the packages have originated within the U.S.
This scam has been successful at finding new victims because the money orders look authentic to the untrained eye, according to police.
"These money orders look real, they have the hologram and everything on them," said Fuller.
The U.S. Postal Service is best equipped to determine if a money order is counterfeit by looking at the serial number.
Police say fake money orders have serial numbers that have not been issued by the Postal Service.
If the victims are unable to repay the bank for the money they lost, they can be charged with fraud.
"We've had two other cases in Mason County where the victims chose to pay the bank and save the embarrassment," said Fuller.
A second scam regarding fraudulent money orders has ensnared one victim in Maysville recently.
This scam is initiated through the mail, when the victim receives a letter from a company based in Ottawa, Canada.
Enclosed with the letter is a counterfeit money order for $4,580, which the victim is asked to cash and mail back to Canada so that the victim may receive thousands of additional dollars in lottery winnings.
"After several attempts in notifying you ... we have secured for you through one of our financial sponsors the required amount of $4,580, which is meant for paying the taxes and charges regarding your recent winning notification," the letter opens.
As in the other scheme, the money orders appear to be genuine, but cashing them can lead to criminal charges for the victim if the money is not repaid to the bank. Police said these scams have often targeted the elderly.
Contact Justin Story at Justin.Story@lee.net or 564-9091, ext. 276
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