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Union Bank customers are not immune to being targeted by scams that involve counterfeit checks, gift checks, travelers cheques or money orders. These counterfeit check scams have become increasingly popular and are targeting virtually every American primarily through the internet and email, but also via U.S. Mail and phone solicitations. Some of the more prevalent schemes include:
- Foreign Business Offers: Scammers pretend to be businesspeople or government officials and promise millions of dollars. But real companies and government agencies don’t offer legitimate business propositions to people they don’t know.
Love Losses: The scammer poses as a romantic interest online, and promises to come to the U.S. to be with the victim. Soon after, the online friend asks the victim to cash a check or money order to cover “travel expenses.”
Overpayments: Scammers buy merchandise online, and then claim they mailed the wrong amount by mistake. The seller is asked to deposit the “wrong” check anyway, and then return the “excess” amount to the scammer. But the check doesn’t clear, and the victim has sent the scammer his own money.
Rental Schemes: Scammers claim to be moving to the area, and put down a rental deposit. Then they tell their landlord they have unexpected expenses, so they ask for some of their deposit back as a favor. They never move in, and the deposit check never clears.
Sudden Riches: The scammer claims the victim has won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes. The notice comes by mail, phone, fax or email. Consumers should know that winners of real cash prizes are notified by certified mail.
Work-at-Home: The scams promise easy money by “processing” checks. The victim deposits the checks and sends the money to the scammer, minus a small fee. Legitimate companies don’t do business like this.
“Most Americans don’t realize they are financially liable when they fall for these scams,” said Susan Grant, vice president of the National Consumer's League, an Alliance partner. “There is no legitimate reason anyone would mail you a check or money order and then ask you to wire money in return,” Grant said. “People need to know that checks can take months to clear, even if the money initially looks like it’s in your account. The scammers know that, and most consumers don’t.”
The Consumer Fraud Awareness Campaign launched in October 2007 with the goal to increase awareness about the schemes, to give consumers valuable information about protecting their assets and to provide steps they can take to report solicitations.
The Alliance has supported the creation of a new National Consumers League (NCL) Web site, www.fakechecks.org which consumers can visit to educate themselves on the scams and learn why, if the offer looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Union Bank & Trust Company strongly supports the objectives of the Alliance for Consumer Fraud Awareness (ACFA) which is a private-public initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Among the most important goals are to educate people about fraud and to increase awareness of less well known efforts by businesses to fight fraud.
Union Bank has been an innovative leader not only in helping individuals prevent fraud and recover from it, but also in working behind the scenes to help individuals and businesses stop fraud before they are victimized.
Here are just a few of the services that Union Bank offers to help individuals or businesses protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.
For Consumers
For Businesses
Union Bank’s innovative services are designed to help protect people and businesses from fraud and identity theft and to help victims recover. If you would like to speak to one of our cash management representatives regarding fraud prevention for your business please call (402) 323-1557.
Other helpful sites regarding fraud awareness and prevention include, but are not limited to:
At Union Bank we care about our customers and helping in the fight against fraud fits our mission, because at UBT “You Belong Here”. |
