The FBI and other law enforcement agencies provide information to the public about fraudulent activities designed to take money from unsuspecting persons or common organizations. Because this is their profession, the people conducting the deceptive activities are often very convincing. We strongly advise that you do not send money or items of value until a reasonable time period has elapsed. Making funds available to you does not necessarily mean the check has been collected and therefore you could still sustain a loss. Please consider these points of caution:
- Is the CHECK or MONEY ORDER from an item you sold on the Internet such as a car, boat, or jewelry?
- Is the amount of the CHECK more than the item’s selling price?
- Have you been instructed to either “WIRE”, “SEND”, or “SHIP” money as soon as possible to another country or U.S. city?
- Is the CHECK drawn on a business or individual account that is different from the person buying your item or product?
- Have you been informed that you were the winner of a LOTTERY, such as Canadian or Australian?
- Is the CHECK connected to communicating with someone by email?
- Have you been asked to PAY money to receive a deposit from another country such as Canada, England, or Nigeria?
- Are you receiving PAY or a COMMISSION for facilitating money transfers through your account?
If you have answered “Yes” to any of these questions, please promptly notify a branch office representative.
