Sheriff’s investigator says new scam uses real, but stolen, checks

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

GALLUP — A new check scam found its way to Crownpoint this week. Unlike the ones used in most counterfeit-check schemes, these checks exhibit a valid company, a valid bank and an authorized signature, according to McKinley County Sheriff’s Investigator Ron Saavedra.

Saavedra said at least one genuine check from the company, R.B. III Associates, Inc., a sports clothing retailer in Southern California, was stolen while in transit. The cons then took that check and “washed it,” removing the pertinent details and placing them on new check stock.

Otherwise the scam is the same as the rest. Cons mail the checks at random, using phone books and Internet directories, and including a note asking the recipient to cash the fraudulent check for them, and then send the cash back to the cons, who Saavedra said use a Canadian address. In exchange for the service, they offer to let the recipient keep a small percentage of the cashed amount, which is usually less than $5,000. And they may even promise to send more money to the recipient later.

The company is aware of the scam using its checks, according to R.B. III Associates Accounting Manager, Donna Catton.

Catton said she has a copy of the letter that typically accompanies these fake checks; however she could not provide one to the Independent prior to Wednesday morning.