Fake Check Scam Uncovered

Carey Sonnier did not know what to think when she received a package containing $2,500 in traveler’s checks last week.

Sonnier’s husband figured someone was repaying her for a loan.

But Sonnier could not recall lending anyone any money, and she did not know anyone from Marysville, Wash., the return address on the package.

“Right off the bat for me, it seemed kind of odd,” said Sonnier, of New Iberia. “I would have loved for it to be real, but it wasn’t.”

Sonnier later found out the checks were part of a fake check scam.

Check scams usually entice the victim to deposit a check and send back a portion of the money to the sender to cover taxes or some other expenses, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Unfortunately, the checks are fake. The victim is responsible for the deposited check, along with any money they return to the sender.

Sonnier said she received five Wells Fargo travelers checks, each for $500. The package instructed her to cash the checks and return some of the money to the sender.

Sonnier said she called Wells Fargo Bank, who told her the account numbers on the checks were fake.

She reported the incident to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Sid Hebert said closer inspection of the checks revealed the watermark was missing and the color scheme was incorrect.

He said detectives were investigating the checks with help from the FBI.

“As you can imagine, this whole thing is being generated way out of our jurisdiction,” he said. “But having community residents notified would certainly be best.”

Hebert said the sheriff’s office received a similar complaint the next day involving postal money orders.

“Parish residents should be cautioned by this,” he said. “This is our second report with a similar-type approach.”

Sonnier said she hoped her experience would help residents avoid falling prey to such a scam.

“I get this kind of thing in my e-mail all the time, but to actually get something mailed to me and hand-written with my name and address is a very scary thing,” Sonnier said.

“It’s getting around Christmas time, and people need to be aware.”