New SCAM, Same Target: Your MONEY
Spokane Valley Investigative Unit received a report of a new scam to bring to your attention. In this scam, potential victims receive a cashier’s check and paperwork claiming the check was for “COVID-19 Assistance Benefit Payment Relief Funds.”
Don’t be fooled into giving your money or personal information to predatory scammers.
An intended target of this scam reported receiving a United States Postal Service envelope in his mailbox when he checked the mail. He opened the envelope and found an $85,000 cashier’s check from USAA. Along with the cashier’s check was paperwork claiming the check was for COVID-19 Assistance Benefit Payment Relief Funds.
The paperwork asks the recipient to provide their first/last name, address, phone number, date of
birth, and social security number to verify the information. The paperwork tells the recipient the money is free and not a loan.
The scam tells the recipient to verify the check before taking it to the bank. It requests the recipient to write their name on the check and call a Customer Service Representative at 1-929-603-5310. It also provides an email address to contact, [email protected].
The potential victim, skeptical of this, contacted his bank and was informed this was a scam and that he should report it to law enforcement.
Don’t fall prey to these scams. Remember, if something is too good to be true, like getting $85,000 for free, it is probably too good and, more than likely, a scam. Nothing needs to happen immediately, check the story out, do some research, and contact your bank or law enforcement. Don’t LOSE your money.
For more information about protecting your privacy, identity, and online security, including how to report phishing emails to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with other scams and consumer information, go to the FTC website https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at https://www.ic3.gov/, or the Washington State Office of the Attorney General https://www.atg.wa.gov/scam-alerts.
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