Fake Check Scam If you receive a check for a large amount of money from a stranger and you're asked to return part of the payment, beware - you're probably getting scammed. This swindle takes several forms. You may receive a check that overpays for a rental property you've advertised, and you'll be asked to send the balance to cover the overpayment. Or maybe you've posted something on eBay and a buyer "mistakenly" sends you a check that's much higher than the amount required. Since the first of the year, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has intercepted counterfeit checks, bound for the U.S., totaling more than $2 billion. A Good Morning America report about this scheme featured the tragic story of a young woman who needed money to pay medical bills. She received $90,000 as the winner of a European lottery (which she had not entered), and was asked to return a substantial amount to cover taxes and fees. She deposited the $90,000, the check cleared, and she sent off a check for $40,000. Her bank later informed her that the first check was returned for insufficient funds and she was unable to retrieve her $40,000. In despair, she committed suicide. This con game has victimized so many people that the USPIS has launched a consumer awareness campaign. You can read more details about how this scam is perpetrated and how to defend yourself against it at this web site: fakechecks.org Please forward this e-Alert to your friends and family and alert them to beware of this con (and also that other reason why they might be a little more jittery than usual!). | 
