FTC: The bottom-line on fake checks scams (2024)

Can my bank make me responsible for the money lost? I am on Social Security that does not even cover my utility bills in rent. No I’m having to pay back $2500 to my bank.

I was recently sent a cashier's check in the amount of 2800.00. I was instructed to deposit it, then go to Wal-Mart and act like a secret shopper. In return, they wanted me to purchase a $50 item 6 Wal-Mart gift cards. I was instructed to take pictures of the gift cards and send to them showing I completed my assignment. ( I have done nothing, I am not going to deposit their check. Thought I'd pass the story on.)

How about mentioning USPS money orders.I have 3 of them and I knew they were a scam and I never cashed them but still have them.

Years ago, received a check from an out of state company for $1,000. Did not cash it, notified the owner of the business which was listed on the check about the deception. He was grateful as his business would be impacted with the fraud check.

Two years ago I was involved in an ?obvious? check scam scheme resulting from a 'Craigs List' furniture offering I had posted. I say "obvious" because the check I ultimately received was excellent in terms of visual authenticity; drawn on a major US accounting firm. More realistic was the fact that it had arrived as an overnight Fed-ex delivery. The ultimate tip-off for me was that a corporate check was paying for a personal purchase; also the emails originated from a non-US source. I did take some satisfaction in that I had at least cost them some time and Fed-Ex mailing expense. Come to find out that these guys fraudulently used a Texas company's Fed-EX account and charged them the shipping cost. These people are professional, brilliant and organized. And I sense that they have gotten even better at it!

Interesting that I was sent a text message from an unknown number. It explained that I had been selected to participate as a secret shopper. I was to watch for an expedited mail parcel which would include instructions for my initial assignment. Well, I received the priority package today. It included a Official Check drawn on Spire Credit Union in the amount of $2,940. I’m to deposit it into my personal account, withdraw $540 as my salary. Next I’m to go get o the nearest Walmart to purchase 6 $400 Kroger gift cards. Then I need to complete some survey questions and email them to someone entirely different than the individual who has contacted me. Now I’m to keep the gift cards in a safe place so that I can use them on my next shopping assignment. Wow!!

This is the exact description of what happened to my brother, except the amount was for $1100 and unfortunately my brother followed through with the scammer's request when the scammer posed as his father-in-law describing a financial emergency. So of course my brother was out the $1100. This is a scam!! Don't fall for it.

Yes I received a check for 2100.00 They wanted me to cash it. Go to Western Union wire them $1200.00 To one person and 500.00 to another and I keep the rest . Big time scam

I received a check in the mail for some rims I was selling. The buyer was out of state. I got the check, and called the company that was on the check to let the "buyer" know that I had gotten the check, and I was going to cash it. I am so glad I did that- the receptionist told me that the check was not good, and that there was no such person at the company with the "buyers" name.

What should I do if I just got the check in the mail today. Obviously it’s a scam, but should I send it back to them or just destroy it and tell the person who keeps texting me (and can’t spell, big tip off), to stop bothering me? Who do I report them to? I’m glad I researched it before being scammed, but I’d like to know how best to handle it.

Absolutely called company sent me a check and I clearly stated to them that I will not be cashing anything and for them not to contact me. I actually told that before they sent it. I reported it here and now the so called company is threatening to sue me. Can they do that for not participating in the scam?

I received a text asking if I’d be interested in being paid $500/week to put Mountain Dew decals on my truck! I said yes and a week later I have a check for $2,950. The “company” keeps texting me asking if I have deposited this check yet, emailing me the confirmed delivery of the UPS package and asking for a screenshot of deposit immediately after I deposit this check. I’m not an idiot and keep playing with the scammer. I told them I was going to use it to open a separate account just for this “side job” and they replied “Are you kidding me” lol

+12672587861This number has recently called me and left me a voicemail in terms of getting me to receive a check. It was already labeled as a 'scam likely' so I didn't pick up.

I just received an official looking letter with a real-looking cashier's check for $2620. They wanted me to be a secret shopper at Walmart and send them all but $500 back after buying moneys for the rest. I was supposed to report how people treated me too, but that wasn't their top concern. If it had been buying other things, I might have fallen for it. I AM a secret shopper! I make money doing that. Secret shopping is a REAL thing. But, this didn't sound right, so I came here to check it out. I was right. It says in the letter that I am to FIRST deposit the money and THEN text a number: 352-900-1336 and let the rep know that I deposited it. Now, I found out that the check WOULD have cleared the bank and given me the money! But...I would have had to pay it back in a few days when they found it to be FAKE. There's a warning in the letter: "There is a tracking detail for every feedback agent. IF upon receipt of this envelope you delay in texting or sending an email confirming you received your package then a phone call will be put through to you and a follow up visit to your address on file by our TASK FORCE Team to retrieve the envelope." Oh, it and says that I would qualify for an extra $300 bonus if I did all of this within 48 hours. Wow! Scammers are evil.

This is the number that started my scams from a employment opportunity supposedly Hennepin Healthcare. They will send a check to buy office equipment for you to deposit. +1 (630) 686-1072

What do I do if they asked me to pay some other person but I didn’t do it yet