$200,000.00 Scam

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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:19 am

I went to get my hair cut today and one of the hairdressers was really estatic. She said she had won $200.000.00 in a contest and that she had received her first check for $47,000.00. Since she was showing this to her co-workers I asked if I could see the check and paperwork. Reluctantly she showed them to me.

I took one look and realized it was a scam. The check had two different bank names on it. LOL (2pid Lads) The accompanying paperwork was produced off of a cheap printer. She was supposed to cash the check and send - get this - $2,000.00 so the rest of the money could be released.

I told her to be very cautious about cashing the check. I said that if it was a legitimate contest she would have gotten the entire money at once and that she would have to sign a release form. She said that she did sign a release form. I asked her where she mailed it. She said she didn't that she emailed it. I also asked her if her check arrived by certified mail. Nope. UPS.

Again, I cautioned her. I told her to go to her bank and have them check it out. That if it was legit then they would gladly cash the check, however, I know of no contests out there that want you to cash a check and send them back some money. I also told her to read up on 419 scams. I pray that she doesn't cash it.

Has anyone else heard of this scam?

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:27 am

Yup! The amount is odd, but this is a variation of a snail mail lotto scam run out of Canada. If you can get hold of her, she needs to know more. Its very possible that the bank will "cash" the cheque before spotting the fact that it is fake. She will be given provisional access to the money and will most likely think that means that the cheque was good. It doesn't. When it bounces (and it will), she will be on the hook for the whole amount.

This is a newish variation on the age old cheque scam, nothing more.

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:01 pm

Thanks Slayer, I will definitely get in contact with her. God I hate to be the one to burst her bubble but I don't want her to suffer from the scum either.