Don’t become another statistic
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bvwv/Editorial/5213/
When Bella Vistan Dick Clark received a letter and check in the mail recently, he smelled a rat. (See story Page 3 A )
Why would somebody he didn’t know send him a check in excess of $ 3, 300, he asked himself ? There must be a catch.
And there was.
After taking the paperwork to the Bella Vista Police Department, he found that what he had in his hand wasn’t worth anything. And, in fact, had he done something else, he might have been out all that money.
You see, had he taken that check to the bank, just about any bank, they would have gladly accepted it and put the proceeds into his account.
Then, while Clark was out there spending his new-found fortune, the check would make its way to the bank’s inspection division, which would have found the paper to be worthless.
With no recourse, the bank would have gone to Clark’s account and taken the money back. And anything he had spent in the interim he would have been responsible for in the end.
We have all heard that there is no free lunch. What is surprising is the number of people who do not believe it.
Hundreds, if not thousands of Americans each year respond to scams similar to the one attempted on Clark.
The theory among the scammers is similar to that of a shotgun blast. If they try to hook just one person, and fail, that’s the end of their game.
However, if they send out hundreds and thousands of letters and emails “ fishing ” for a mark, odds are somebody is going to bite. And those who bite, get bit in the end.
Some of the inquiries are pretty lame. The English is terrible — which should be the first clue that it isn’t legitimate.
Others, however, are pretty sophisticated, and sometimes even use names and logos of well known companies and organizations. Or, they might use the name of a charitable group to entice you.
Either way, ask for credentials. Have the solicitors send you paperwork verifying who they are. Legitimate groups will have no problem doing this.
As for the unsolicited letters and emails, simply ignore them. Put them in the trash where they belong.
Do not give out any personal information.
Thieves need very little personal information these days to get into your bank account, or request credit cards in your name that they will later use.
Do not send any money to anybody who wants your help moving their money into the United States. You’re just going to get into trouble. And that trouble may be more than financial. In some instances you could be responsible for assisting in a crime.
Do not fall for these scams.
If you believe you have been targeted, go to the police department. Take everything you have related to the incident with you.
If you think somebody is tampering with your money, run, don’t walk, to your bank and get it cleared up.
Just ignore all of these attempts to separate you from your money. Don’t become another statistic.