<!--Michele Deluca--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Michele Deluca</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:michele.deluca@niagara-gazette.com">michele.deluca@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
The good news is that Jan DiFranco knew she hadn’t won.
When the letter came to her 71st Street home, Jan DiFranco saw right away that some unsavory folks were trying to steal from her. But she worried that other people might not.
If she had fallen for the letter’s news that she had won $125,000 in U.S. dollars, she might have decided to cash the accompanying check for $3,980 which was enclosed to “assist you in paying the necessary government applicable taxes on your winning.”
While it looked convincing, the letter had many indications it was written by a scammer so DiFrancesco knew not to cash the check.
“Being in customer service I know that 416 is a Canadian area code,” she said of an accompanying phone number, “but the address on the letter was from Tampa Fla.”
Also, she said, “There were too many different names on the check,” which is typical of such a hoax. The letter is from Tampa Green Consultants and has a Canadian phone number but the check is issued from the University of Pennsylvania and Wachovia Bank.
U.S. Postal Inspector Ray Williams said letters and checks such as DiFrancesco received cross his desk nearly every day. He said that consumers need to know if they cash the fake checks, they are liable for the money they take from the bank.
“You present a check, money order, or debit card and ultimately the bank and the law presume you are presenting them something legitimate,” he said.
Often the scammer wants the person to send some of the money to them through a wire service such as Western Union. The letters often caution the recipient to “keep the winning notice confidential until your claim has been processed.”
A Niagara Gazette reporter who called the Canadian phone number (416-887-3024) was immediately disconnected by the man with a foreign accent who hung up when the reporter identified herself.
Williams noted that consumers need to educate themselves about such scams, as they are getting increasingly creative. “They are as multi-faceted as varied as the human mind can dream up,” he said.
He noted that an international scheme was broken up in 2007 by US postal inspectors working with law enforcement internationally and 77 people were arrested in the UK, Canada, the Netherlands and Nigeria. About 2.l billion in counterfeit checks were confiscated. Apparently, many more are being sent around the world and especially to the U.S.
Locally, DiFrancesco took the check and the letter to her job at Precision Vacuum Parts on Niagara Falls Boulevard on Wednesday. She and her boss, Terri Hriczak, decided to call the Niagara Gazette to let people know that scammers are targeting local addresses.
“We were concerned about other people getting these, especially senior citizens,” Hriczak said. “This looks so authentic we were worried that someone could suffer from this and actually get pulled into a scam.”
Williams said that those who suspect they have received a fraudulent letter and/or check, can contact the United States Postal Service Web site at postalinspectorsusps.gov to watch videos and read stories about such scams, or to report a scam. They can also call 877-USMAIL5 (877-876-2455), and pick option 3 to report a scam.
“No legitimate organization or entity will remit a financial instrument (check or debit card) and then tell you to wire funds back,” Williams said.
He then offered an oft heard bit of advice for area residents and potential “winners” of lotteries and other drawings: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
