Many alert New Mexicans have contacted the Office of the Attorney General to report scam attempts using counterfeit checks. The scams involve a counterfeit check and instructions that the check be cashed and proceeds wired to a specific person. Sometimes the scam involves lottery or sweepstakes winning and there are other variations. It is vital that no one cash one of these counterfeit checks because once the check is found to be counterfeit, the amount of the check will be owed to the financial institution that cashed it.
We have established a database of counterfeit checks received in this office. If you or anyone you know is tempted to cash a check from an unknown source, look through the database, you might find a copy of the check here. But even if you don’t, please don’t be fooled into thinking you are going to get something for nothing.
Want to learn more? Read our Counterfeit Check Scams brochure.
Consumer Federation of America has partnered with the National Consumers League to release new tips, Five Things You Should Know to Avoid Fake Check Scams. CFA also announced two new videos, one on the sweepstakes/lottery fake check scams and the other on work-at-home fake check scams. You will find them at www.consumerfed.org/fakecheckscams.