{"id":8198,"date":"2016-08-29T21:43:16","date_gmt":"2016-08-30T04:43:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.taraval.org\/?p=8198"},"modified":"2016-09-13T08:45:07","modified_gmt":"2016-09-13T15:45:07","slug":"crime-prevention-tips-theft-by-trickery-cashing-fake-checks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taraval.org\/?p=8198","title":{"rendered":"Crime Prevention Tips – Theft By Trickery Cashing Fake Checks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Attention: There have been numerous reports of citizens being\u00a0victims of check fraud in our neighborhood. Please be aware of the problem and alert for any suspicious signs of fraud. Here are some current examples of reports\u00a0that have passed through the station.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Example 1:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The victim was at the Stonestown Galleria mall at 10:30am and was appreciated by two suspects who asked for help cashing a check because they had lost their wallets. The suspects offered to give the victim a cash reward if they were able to help out. After agreeing, the victim entered a bank located within the mall to deposit a $1900.00 check that was given by the suspects. Then, the victim withdrew the maximum amount allowed from his own account, which was $500.00. \u00a0The suspects insisted that they needed more cash and offered to drive the victim to Safeway to withdrawal more more. However, the victim refused for safety reasons and a compromise was reached to use a taxi instead. Once at Safeway, the victim withdrew $1400.00 in two separate $700.00 transaction. The suspects urged the victim to withdraw even more but the victim was unable to, due to his bank’s rules. It was not until later\u00a0that\u00a0victim was notified that the check was fraudulent and could not be honored. The victim is currently out $1900.00 with no information on how to make contact with the suspects or how to retrieve his lost money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Example 2:<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The\u00a0suspect stopped a victim in the middle of the street and asked if the victim could help out because the suspect’s bank account was too new to accept\u00a0a check deposit. In return, the suspect offered cash for their assistance. The victim agreed to deposit\u00a0the offered check\u00a0and withdrew cash from their personal bank account as the suspect requested. When the bank refused to cash the check due to fraudulent and to honor the amount, the victim was unable to retrieve any of the money they lost.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Remember! If you are asked to cash a check and send money through Western Union or Money Gram\u2014or if the offer is “too good to be true<\/em>,” it’s likely a scam.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some other scams:<\/span><\/p>\n