If You're Reading This, You've Won!!!

Ahhh the holidays. A time when we get together to celebrate with friends & family, eat great food, open gifts, & spend, spend, spend! This time of year can also leave you feeling like you need a money miracle; and it’s the time of year when criminals are counting on it to fill their pockets with YOUR money.

Here’s how it works:

A mysterious check arrives with a letter informing you that you’ve been “randomly” selected to do a “Secret Shopping” gig; or perhaps you’re the recent winner of an overseas lottery that you didn’t play; or even still, maybe you’ve received a grand inheritance from a relative whom you’ve never heard of, or met, in your life. If this is the case then you are the newest, unwitting participant of a SCAM!

Very clever thieves create these checks (which look 100% real!) & send them to you in hopes that you’ll deposit the check & send them a portion of the money back via Western Union. Then, when the check is returned as a fraudulent item, YOU become responsible for the funds.

As a teller, I see this happen frequently. The thieves are non-selective about who they choose as targets, but it’s especially sad to see older persons affected by this situation. I even have one member who receives these nearly once a week and they’re made out to her husband, who passed away several years ago. Disturbing - to say the least.

But you don’t have to fall victim to these scams. If you receive a check that seems too good to be true, (as the old adage goes) IT PROBABLY IS! If you’re unsure, you can call the financial institution where the check was drawn to verify funds, or take it to your financial institution, and have them look into it. DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK OR HAVE IT CASHED!!!!!!!!!! I can’t stress that enough.

The scam has been around for several years, but is still going strong because people are still falling for it. Truth is, they’re good at what they do. It’s your job to be better. Keep an eye out for this and other types of fraud this holiday season, and keep your money where it belongs – in YOUR pocket (or safely tucked away in your savings account)!