Check schemes still a threat for consumers

How does that old expression go? “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!”

While Northeast CONTACT has warned several times about incoming offshore or out-of-country check schemes, the problem still persists.

Last week, we heard once again of an individual in our region, an older Mainer, who was separated from $3,000 of his hard-earned money. In telephone discussions with this man, it became clear that without divine intervention his money is gone forever and will never be returned. As hard, cold and sad as that assessment seems, nonetheless that is the bottom line.

Without getting into the specific details of this situation, this mail or Internet scam works to separate honest, hard-working or retired people from their money. There are many variations to this rip-off, but the essential elements are simple, effective and repeated day after day, week after week with unsuspecting victims who remember a gentler time long gone. A time of honesty, integrity and trust. Welcome to the new world.

The bad guys in this scam are offshore or out of the country. American financial laws do not reach these places. If you send money to these countries and ever hope, in fairness, to get anything back, think again. If you burned this money in your wood stove, at least you would get a small heat value from it.

The bad guys find the victims’ address or phone numbers. How? Perhaps it appears somewhere on a Web page. Names can be found in online directories such as Superpages or Craigslist. If you are selling an item in Uncle Henry’s or this publication (your print ad also appears online) it can easily be read worldwide.

The perpetrator’s pitch by phone or e-mail goes something like this: “I’d like to buy the article you have advertised. I will pay the price you ask and also pay the cost of shipping. I will send you a check that is made out for an amount higher than what I will owe you. Please cash the check and mail me the difference.” The item for sale could be anything from 100 pounds of dog food to a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The check you are mailed is phony, worthless, has no value. It looks real. It looks real to the teller at the bank. The check may be drawn on a well-known bank, a financial institution, or a Fortune 500 business. Nevertheless, that check will bounce to the moon. Sadly, by the time this check is identified as a fraud, your bona fide, honest, solid-as-gold check is winging its way to the crooks. It will land in a country outside of U.S. legal jurisdiction and will be cashed instantly, and your money is gone. End of story. This will be a very expensive, painful lesson to learn.

If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Stop and think when these scams are pitched to you. Have the buyer write a check for the exact amount or no deal.

Never part with your money or merchandise until the check clears. Whenever the pitch comes in from another country (sorry, Canadian friends) be doubly cautious. Prevention is the key to success. Also, please look after senior loved ones or those disabled to help them avoid this type of scam. They are very much at risk.

This nasty scam happens again and again to our citizens. Many good Maine people are losing money they can ill afford to lose. Don’t be one of them.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership costs $25; business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information, write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.