IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LPD: Beware of scams, fraudulent
checks and money orders
By Andrea McCann, staff
writer
Incidents of fraud are on the increase, and several
area residents have been scammed.
"It's hitting, and hitting hard,
nationwide," said Lt. Det. Troy Jerrell of the
Linton Police Department. "It's astronomical, and it's going to get much
worse before it gets better."
Jerrell said the big scam occurring in the Linton area
fools people into believing they've won a lottery in another country, such as
"People want to believe they've won a lottery,
but they haven't entered it," said LPD Chief Keith McDonald.
Another scam occurs when people have items for sale in
publications or on the Internet, McDonald and Jerrell said. The buyer overpays
to get the item shipped quickly and tells the seller to just write a check for
any extra and send it back with the item. The purchaser's check turns out to be
fraudulent, and the seller ends up losing the item she had for sale and her
money.
"They're pretty good manipulators over the
phone," McDonald said. "They try to get people excited about the
sale. They send too much money for it and ask for a refund. They send a check
that's no good, then they get money back from the
seller."
Sometimes, Jerrell said, the funds will be in the
bank, so when the seller's bank checks, it appears to be OK. But, he said, the
scammers are working more than one person at a time, so by the time the check
gets to its destination, there's no money in the account.
"Sometimes the account owner is another
victim," Jerrell said.
He suggested waiting two to three weeks to make sure a
check clears before spending the money or sending the purchased item to the
buyer.
"If you're not doing business with somebody you
know, be cautious," McDonald said. "Be skeptical until the funds
clear."
He added that money orders also are being forged.
"They look pretty good," he said.
"They're usually in small amounts.
"The banks are aware. They're trying to stay
alert."
The chief said at least one local bank has signs at
the teller windows to make customers aware of the problem.
"If someone buys something from you, or you win
money, you shouldn't have to send money," Jerrell said, emphasizing that
the basis of the scams always involves the victim sending money.
"It
still boils down to: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
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