Travelers Checks Scam
By Karen Stiles
Archived Content
If you receive an e-mail message asking for help cashing travelers’ checks, watch out! The e-mail could be an attempt to scam you out of your hard earned dollars. And, if you fall for the scam and cash these checks, you could be arrested for taking part in a crime.
Here’s how the scam works:
You receive an e-mail from someone who claims they are stranded in another country, are unable to use their travelers checks, and need your help cashing the checks and wiring the money back.
In exchange for your help, they will give you ten percent of the proceeds.
Once you agree, they overnight these checks, usually via Federal Express or UPS, in amounts that have typically been for $500 or $2,500.
After you cash these checks and wire the money to the scam artist, you then learn that not only are you out the money, but that you may be party to a crime.
If you receive this type of e-mail, do not respond or get involved until you are able to check things out more thoroughly with consumer organizations and authorities. If you get these checks in the mail, don’t cash them until you check to be sure that they are legitimate. Have your bank and the issuer of these types of checks verify their authenticity.
Never do business with someone from outside of the country who you do not know. If you find out later that you’ve been duped, it is virtually impossible to track down these criminals and to take legal action against them.
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