August 14, 2006

From the Desk of Legislator Diane Yatauro:

Yatauro Announces Important Scam Information

Please be cognizant of a new internet scam that has come to my attention. The new internet scam targets residents who sell items on the internet. The scammers send the seller a check or cashier’s check for more than the amount asked expecting the seller to send them back the difference. The seller later finds out that the check is invalid. The seller is held liable for all incurred bank fees and will have lost money as well as the item being sold.

There are some very clever scammers out there targeting our friends and neighbors and especially targeting our local artists. If you are selling items on the internet, and someone sends you a check or cashier’s check for more money than you have asked with the hope that you will “just send them the change”, be very suspicious. The scammer’s goal is that you will send the item and the change to him or her before the bank realizes that the check is in fact fraudulent.

Please be very cautions when selling items online, and do not fall victim to this scam.

If you suspect fraud of this type or any other type, contact your local authorities, or feel free to call my office at 571-6218.