CINCINNATI, Ohio Tuesday, June 14, 2016 -Blanchester School District officials are warning consumers if they receive a check that looks like it came from them after selling an item online, don’t cash it. It’s part of a nationwide fake check overpayment scam.
People around the country buy or sell items using the website, letgo.com. A buyer claiming to be David Ray offers to buy an item posted for sale on the site and sends a check for payment that has the Blanchester School District’s name, address, routing number and bank account number with a high dollar amount between $1,200 and $2,000. The seller is then told to cash the check, keep a portion of the funds for the sale item and wire the excess by Western Union to an individual in Colorado Springs, CO or a second location in West Virginia.
Darlene Kassner, Blanchester School District Treasurer said they’ve contacted police and the district’s bank, First National Bank of Blanchester. So far, several people have reportedly tried to cash the checks. Fortunately, Kassner said the school district hasn’t lost money from the scam because the bank caught the transaction in time.
The closest report of receiving one of these checks was in Milford, Ohio. Other people from California, Texas, Virginia,West Virginia, Missouri, Michigan, Kentucky, Georgia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Illinois are reporting receiving a similar check for payment with the Blanchester School District information. Kassner added none of the school’s checks have been compromised and the district has a check storage procedure in place. District officials are working together to keep track of reports of where additional bogus checks are popping up.
BBB recommends when shopping online classified websites, use caution. When a buyer starts asking to wire money or sends a check for more than the purchasing price, it is a sign of an overpayment scam. Don’t cash the check. Instead, report it to local law enforcement and record the scam to BBB’s Scam Tracker.
Media Inquiries for Blanchester School comments: Please contact Darlene Kassner, (937) 783-3523.
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