Deputies warn public about counterfeit check scam

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department wants the community to avoid counterfeit check scams that have been popping up recently.

Check scammers trick victims by mailing counterfeit checks in the victim’s name, claiming the victim overpaid for some service or purchase.

According to a release from Deputy Albert Martinez, the scammer offers to buy an item for several hundred dollars (or more), but uses a counterfeit check. After the check is delivered, the check scammer claims he or she mistakenly overpaid the agreed-upon amount.

The scammer then requests the victim to cash or deposit the check and return the difference of overpayment via money order or cash. When the check is finally processed, the victim finds out from the bank that it was counterfeit and didn’t clear, causing the account to become overdrawn, Martinez said.

By the time the victim receives notification from the bank, the scammer hopes to have already received the difference of the false overpayment.

The sheriff’s department listed the following tips to avoid check scams:

A check can take several days to clear, and until then, you’re responsible for any funds withdrawn against it. Call your bank to make sure the check cleared.
Be wary of checks received from unknown individuals.
When selling to someone you don’t know, it is safer to accept PayPal, cash or credit card payments.
Do not accept overpayments.
When selling on Craigslist or similar sites, don’t take more than the sales price, no matter what convincing story the buyer tells you.
Check your online bank statements frequently.
Don’t wait for monthly statements. If you see something you don’t recognize, call your financial institution immediately.

Read more about check scams at fraud.org.

Tips for avoiding other common fraud schemes