| [Scam] I got a check for $4,850! I won $450,000 in the USA Mega Sweepstakes, and they sent a check for $4,850 to cover the $4,100 processing fee. All I have to do is call Oscar Williams, deposit the $4,850 check, wait for it to clear, withdraw $4,100 in cash, and wire it via Western Union. Then their special courier company will deliver my $450,000 certified check.
I'm sure this is all legitimate, even though the notice is a poor-quality photocopy that doesn't even have my name on it, and I'm sure it's normal for a company in Los Angeles to send me a check drawn on another company's account in Massachusetts, and tell me to call a phone number in Spain.
(Yeah, I know the drill. I deposit the check, it clears the next day, I withdraw and wire the money, and 3 weeks later the bank says the check was counterfeit and takes their $4,850 back. Meanwhile, the $4,100 is gone for good and no $450,000 check is on the way.) |
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peterboroPremium
join:2006-11-03
Peterborough, ON | said by aannoonn : I'm sure this is all legitimate, Of course it is. That's the Bank of America Centre in LA or a park bench take your pic.
»maps.google.ca/maps?q=333+S+Hope···315,,0,0 |
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 ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3
 ·DSL EXTREME
| reply to aannoonn
Write them back and tell them to take the winnings out of your ginormous award. No, wait, that costs you a stamp. I'd say call him, but with that many digits there, I'm sure that's also going to cost a mint.
I'm stumped. I don't know a free way to write back for a counter-scam. |
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 J E F FWhatta Ya Think About Dat?Premium
join:2004-04-01
Kitchener, ON
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
 ·Rogers Portable ..
 ·magicjack.com
| reply to aannoonn
Not normal at all, of course, if the curiosity is killing you, get the check certified before cashing it. Send it into TDBank (at that branch) and have them certify it.
You do realize what happens next.
(you wasted postage)
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If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Albert Einstein |
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 Doctor OldsI Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
kudos:18 | reply to aannoonn
Read this thread.
»[Scam] Is this a scam???
Contact the company that the check is drawn against to give them a heads up and offer to send the originals to them after making a copy for your records in order to CYA.
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
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| reply to J E F F
said by J E F F:Send it into TDBank (at that branch) and have them certify it.
Just a note here...
TD Bank, Hyannis MA = US Bank
US Banks have 9 digit routing numbers
"013256" (as shown on check) is not.
Btw, Not that I expected to, but I couldn't find a delivery/processing center in Hyannis, MA anyway : »www.routingnumbers.org/search.ph···=TD+BANK
-Jim |
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| reply to Doctor Olds
said by Doctor Olds:Read this thread.
»[Scam] Is this a scam???
Contact the company that the check is drawn against to give them a heads up and offer to send the originals to them after making a copy for your records in order to CYA.
 Good one, Doctor Olds  . I forgot about the horse farm who unknowingly (until it came out here) had their checks forged in the that similar scam.
Definitely time to contact "Blue Water LP".
-Jim |
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| reply to JALevinworth
said by JALevinworth :US Banks have 9 digit routing numbers
"013256" (as shown on check) is not. 013256 is the check number
211370545 is the routing number - »www.routingnumbers.org/bank_rout···545.html
I blanked-out the account number. |
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| reply to Doctor Olds
said by Doctor Olds:http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r18589750-Scam-Is-this-a-scam-
Contact the company that the check is drawn against to give them a heads up and offer to send the originals to them after making a copy for your records in order to CYA.
Ah, yes, I remember the Magnolia Arabians thread.
I considered contacting the company in MA whose account the forged check was drawn on. However, I don't see any up-side for me to do so, but there are lots of down-sides. e.g., They think I'm the one forging the checks, they contact the Feds, the Feds show up here, seize my computers, and I have to spend thousands of dollars on lawyers to prove my innocence. No thanks. |
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| reply to aannoonn
said by aannoonn :said by JALevinworth :US Banks have 9 digit routing numbers
"013256" (as shown on check) is not. 013256 is the check number Yep. Crappy vision. |
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| reply to aannoonn
said by aannoonn :said by Doctor Olds:http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r18589750-Scam-Is-this-a-scam-
Contact the company that the check is drawn against to give them a heads up and offer to send the originals to them after making a copy for your records in order to CYA.
I considered contacting the company in MA whose account the forged check was drawn on. However, I don't see any up-side for me to do so, but there are lots of down-sides. [snip]  [self mod'ed] |
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cpalindcPremium
join:2011-06-05
Washington, DC | reply to JALevinworth
I thought all US checks had the bank routing number first in the sequence, but there is a modification:
"The MICR line at the bottom of a check encodes three or four separate items. If the check is longer than 6.5 inches, the left most field is the Auxiliary On-Us. It usually has the check number in it. If the check is 6.5 inches or less in length, this field is not present.
The next area (to the right) is the Transit field. This identifies the bank or institution. Next, (to the right), is the On-Us field, which is usually the business or person's bank account number. Finally, the right most area, which appears blank when the check is printed, is the Amount field. The check amount is filled in by the bank or another processing authority."
From »www.elfring.com/what.htm |
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| said by cpalindc:I thought all US checks had the bank routing number first in the sequence, but there is a modification:
That's interesting. I didn't initially see the blanked area where the account number is, and thought there were just 2 (which would be routing, then account number) not realizing (of course) op blanked out account number. Now I have learned that 6.5" checks (larger than the standard personal check size) can have the check number in the first slot.
As supported by your link, the fonts and placement have to be exact to be machine read. I know if they are not, or if you accidentally mark over that area (which I have with a sloppy signature) it will cause a check to take longer to process. The machine kicks it out and it has to be manually keyed in. It wouldn't surprise me if fraudsters also employ this.
-Jim |
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| reply to JALevinworth
said by JALevinworth :said by aannoonn :I considered contacting the company in MA whose account the forged check was drawn on. However, I don't see any up-side for me to do so, but there are lots of down-sides. [snip]
[self mod'ed] I'm reminded of the time an ATM gave me an extra $90. I called up the bank, but they were completely uninterested in knowing that their ATM was giving out too much money and brushed me off.
I figure this company will do the same thing (I doubt I'd even get to talk to the people who handle the banking) and write me off as some nut case or scammer. |
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 pcdebbRIP dadkinsPremium
join:2000-12-03
Brandon, FL
kudos:4
1 edit | reply to aannoonn
I'm willing to bet you arent the only person that got a similar check with this company, so you may not look like the crook at all. I know I'd want to know.
looks like a fresh one:
»www.justanswer.com/1avm-certifie···ing.html
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| map your city | |
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| reply to JALevinworth
Usually if you mark over it, it doesn't hurt. Traditionally the numbers at the bottom were magnetic ink encoded and to slow your check down, you had to smear a bit of magnetic ink over the area. Yes, I had some and used it on a check that I needed an extra day to clear (back in the 70's). The check came back in a glassine envelope with the MICR codes reprinted on the bottom edge. I don't know if they switched to optical scanning yet, but there are still lots of laser toner cartridges for this (look up MICR laser toner).
NetLarry |
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