A scam that is gaining popularity

by Tekle Sebhatu

Question:

This is a new type of scam. They send you a forged money order or bank check, which is even cleared by your bank. Once you send them money, your bank will find out that it is a forged MO or check.

Answer:

Thank you very much for identifying a scam that appears to be gaining popularity. Here is how the scam works: A scammer agrees to buy goods with the arrangement that payment is to be made using an international money order or cashiers check. The money order or check that appears to be authentic with all the bells and whistles, including magnetic routing codes and name of a legitimate bank is mailed directly to the seller and is often of higher value than the transaction itself. The scammer suggests to the seller to keep portion and wire back immediately the rest into the scammers account. The seller approaches his bank to cash the counterfeit international money order or cashiers check only to be told that it is fake.