The Badger Herald

NEWS

Postal Service urges consumer vigilance

Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.

Also by Taylor Cox:

Kumar: Cheapen tracking devices (February 25, 2008)
County airport aims for student travelers (February 1, 2008)

by Taylor Cox

Friday, February 29, 2008

Consumer protection and education efforts aimed at curtailing fake check scams will launch across the country next week, the U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday.

National Consumer Protection Week, March 2 through 8, informs people how to avoid falling victim to check fraud through the “Don’t fall for a fake check” campaign.

According to the Postal Inspector Service, check fraud is a growing problem as new technologies enable nearly identical check duplicates to be produced.

“We’ve seized over 600,000 fake checks worth over $2.5 billion,” said Lori Groen, postal inspector for the U.S. Postal Inspector Service. “We are on the lookout, but most of the bad guys aren’t even in the United States.”

The service has made 77 cross-border arrests within the past year — 60 in the Netherlands, 16 in Nigeria and one in Canada.

“We are making strides in finding some of these people,” Groen said. “But we are sure that’s just a small amount.”

The purpose of NCPW is to forward information to the public regarding “how to keep people out of your wallet,” Groen said.

The average tax fraud victim loses $3,000 to $4,000, according to Groen.

The most common solicitations of check scams among college students occur on social networking sites, roommate ads, apartment rentals and Internet auction sites, Groen said.

Many times students make “new friends” on online dating websites or other networking forums. These “new friends” ask students to cash their checks for them and wire the scam artist the value of the check, Groen said.

If the bank finds the check is counterfeit, which is often the case according to Groen, the student is responsible for the loss.

Problems with check fraud are also common for students selling items online on sites like eBay or Overstock.com. If a person buys an item and is unsatisfied with the product, and the seller refunds the money, many times the seller’s check bounces.

There is no legitimate reason why anyone would send a check and ask for it to be wired back, according to Sally Greenberg of the National Consumer League.

“Always be suspicious of unexpected checks and never cash a check with a request of getting money back,” Greenberg said. “Approximately 21 million people fall victim each year, and losses [add up to] $85 billion. Everyone is a victim.”

Feedback

Show all comments

Hide anonymous comments

Anonymous (March 2, 2008 @ 2:35am):

Dear Badger Herald Reader,

I am Mr. Germain Q. Stemme, I work in the Accounts/Operations Department of a Prime banks here in Ma D'Ison, Wisc-On-Sin. I actually have an urgent and very confidential business proposal for you.

On 10 January 2008, a General Student Services Fund manager with the Registered Student Organizations (RSO), Mr. Buckingham U. Badger, made a number time (fixed) deposits valued at US$8,750,000 (Eight Million, Seven Hundred & Fifty Thousand United States Dollars). On investigation, it was discovered that Mr. Badger died along with his family in a fraternity hazing. On further investigation, I discovered that Mr. Buckingham U. Badger did not leave a resolution with the Student Council (SC) and all attempts to trace his Representative proved abortive. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Badger did not declare any major in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paper work. This sum of US$8,750,000 is still floating in the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each week. For the past 6 to 7 weeks now, no one has ever come forward to claim the fund.

According to the Regent's Financial & Administrative Policies at the expiration of 8 (eight) weeks, the money will revert to the ownership of the Associated Students of Madison if nobody applies to claim the funds. That is what gave way to this deal.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the SC Representative to Mr. Buckingham U. Badger so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some government officials. I await your urgent reply in this matter.

Sincerely,

Mr. Germain Q. Stemme

Anonymous (May 29, 2008 @ 1:05am):

How very interesting Mr Stemme, please tell me more

Add a comment

We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.