KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasConsumer Advocate Warns Against Counterfeit Cashiers' Checks
Nevada Consumer Advocate Eric Witkoski warns Nevada residents about counterfeit, forged or stolen cashiers' checks being sent as either lottery or sweepstakes winnings or used to purchase Internet auction items.
In each case, a person was sent what appeared to be a real check -- usually either a bank or cashier's check. The person is then asked to cash the check and wire money back to the sender or the sender's agent. If the check is deposited, it's eventually found to be either fraudulent or stolen in about a week to 14 days. The person is then out the amount they wired to the sender as well as the amount of the check.
The scam has three variations. There is the sweepstakes or lottery scam, the check related to an Internet auction sale and the third is the mystery shopper scam. In this case, the recipient is mailed an unsolicited offer to become a mystery shopper. The recipient is told to keep part of the large sum of money to make mystery purchases, keep part of it for salary and wire the excess back to the sender. The check bounces and the person is then out the amount wired to the scammer and the amount of any purchases which can't be returned for a refund.
The Nevada Consumer Advocate warns Nevada citizens to never wire money to anyone who is not personally known to the sender.
For more information on how you can help prevent such scams or to respond to illegal deceptive trade practices, you may contact the Nevada Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection at (775) 684-1180 in northern Nevada, or (702) 486-3194 in Southern Nevada.
