Today, June 19, I received a letter with the letterhead The Jobplanet.com, complete with their logo.included in the letter was a bogus check for $3975 with instructions to cash the check and to send $3660 per money-gram.
Was I suspicious? Of course I was, so I took the following action.
1. Since there was no phone number on the check I searched on Google for the name of the bank. Once I found it I called the bank and asked if the account was a valid one. They told me that it was not.
2. I followed the calling instructions on the letter. A person answered with a slight foreign accent and told me what he wanted me to do. I told him that I would deposit the check in my account and as soon as my bank received the funds from that bank that I would do as he requested.
The phone line suddenly went dead.
The reason that I called the number after I knew that this was a scam was to try and get more info. Which I did not. I would not suggest doing this, because unless you block your number, they record it and you could become victims of other like scams, or they might be able to get more info about you using your name and phone number.
On most Authentic Checks the phone number of the Bank at which the account is held is printed on the check. Always look for that phone number and call the bank to make sure that:
1. There is such an account.
2. There are sufficient funds in the account to cover the check.
Since I did take these steps I was a victim, but no I did not get hurt, because I do not have to repay my bank any money for depositing a bogus check and then immediately withdrawing the money. So I still have a good relationship with that bank.
I wrote this short article to help other victims of scams like this one. If you follow the steps that I took you will not get hurt.
To Summarize:
If you get a check in the mail or by FEDEX, or UPS from someone that you don't know and you were not expecting a Rebate check always do the following before you withdraw the amount of the check from your bank. Or even before you take it to your bank.
1. Look for the phone number of the bank on the check. No phone number, then the check is probably bogus.
2. Google the Bank and get the info.
3. Call the Bank after you get the info and inquire as to the validity of the account. If it is a valid account ask if there are enough funds in the account to cover the amount of the check.
Follow these steps and you will not get hurt.
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