There are several variations of the check scam; the most common strategy is the "Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud," with 100 victims daily. The scammer proposes to send the victim a check for an extra sum and requests the victim wire back the excess money. The scammers often are from--or at least claim to be from--other countries, which explains why it is too difficult for them to make direct payment. Scammers offer to buy something you have for sale, offer you collection of a sweepstakes you won, or pay you to work at home.

Victims often send the product or money to the scammer once they receive payment. However, the realistic looking checks sent to victims are forgeries and, unfortunately, the victims are responsible for the money they withdraw against the bad check. Experts advise sellers to not send refunds or deliver goods in the period it takes cashiers' checks to clear.

***We at your Credit Union are seeing an increase in bogus checks here in Butte. There was a help wanted ad in the Montana Standard the first couple of weeks of October for at home workers. The company will send you a check and ask you to wire a portion of the money back to them, after keeping a portion for your "training costs".

Another scam involves a check received for "sweepstakes" winnings for using your VISA card. Upon calling the bank that the check was drawn from we discovered that the check was bogus.

****FRAUD ALERT****

If you can answer "YES" to any of the following questions, you could be involved in a FRAUD or are about to be SCAMMED!!

-Is the CHECK from an item you sold on the internet, such as a car, boat, jewelery, etc?

-Is the amount of the CHECK more than the item's selling price?

-Did you receive the CHECK via an overnight delivery service?

-Is the CHECK connected to communicating with someone by email?

-Is the CHECK drawn on a business or individual account that is different from the person buying your item or product?

-Have you been informed that you were the winner of a LOTTERY or SWEEPSTAKES, such as Canadian, Australian, El Gordo, or El Mundo that YOU DID NOT ENTER?

-Have you been instructed to either, "WIRE", "SEND", OR "SHIP" MONEY, as soon as possible to a large U.S. city or to another country, such as Canada, England or Nigeria?

-Have you been asked to PAY money to receive a deposit or cash a check from another country such as Canada, England or Nigeria?

-Are you receiving PAYMENT or a COMMISSION for facilitating money transfers through your account?

-Did you respond to an email requesting you to CONFIRM, UPDATE, OR PROVIDE your account information?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be at risk and should consider contacting your credit union or the police.