NBC Connecticut’s consumer team recently received a priority mail envelope with a $1,690 check enclosed.
It appeared suspicious at first glance, but it was addressed to NBC Connecticut’s Christiane Cordero and looked like it had legitimate qualities.
When questioning a check, the first clues are on the check itself.
Make sure it’s tied to a legitimate business, a legitimate bank and has routing and account numbers.
Other possible indicators that it could be real, one perforated edge and a check number higher than 100. The one NBC Connecticut received meets all of that criteria.
The check sent to NBC Connecticut has a return address listed as 16 Allen Avenue in Beverly Hills, California.
Not only did the sender spell 'Beverly' wrong, but the address doesn’t exist.
Local
The check was issued by a legitimate business, May Trucking Company, but when NBC Connecticut called the company directly, a representative confirmed the check was fake.
She said she has since received three calls about the fake check and May Trucking Company’s checks do not look like the one sent to NBC Connecticut. She advised against depositing it.
Sometimes, the person behind the scheme will contact the recipient shortly after he or she receives it, to try and convince that person to send part of the sum back.
If someone sends their money and deposit the check, the fake check will likely bounce.
The best thing to do with the fake check is the shred it.
