The Hudson Police Department would like to warn residents about a check scam that has been occurring in Hudson. The victim is an individual who is selling something over the internet. The victim is contacted by a "buyer" who agrees to purchase the item for sale, and pays by what appears to be a bank check. The bank check is made out for significantly more than the cost of the items. The "buyer" instructs the victim to deposit the bank check into their bank account, keep more than the selling price, and wire the remainder of the bank check to a third party.

The problem for the victim is that the bank check is a forgery. By the time the victim's bank finds out that the deposited bank check is a forgery, the "buyer" has already collected the amount wired to them.

A victim is a seller of Avon merchandise on "Craiglist.com". The victim is emailed by a "Janet James" asking to purchase $879.98 of Avon merchandise. The victim receives a bank check for $3500.00 from St. Kevin Roman Catholic Church in Miami, FL. "Janet James" asks that the victim to deposit the bank check into her account, keep $1000.00 for the Avon merchandise, and send the remaining $2500.00 via Western Union to "Lisa Belcher" in Warren, MI. Fortunately, in this case the victim was suspicious and contacted the Hudson Police Department prior to depositing the forged check.

A victim responds to a "Help Wanted" advertisement and receives a cashier's check from "Secret Shoppers" for $2875.00. The instructions with the check requested that the victim deposit the check, keep $300.00 for her "training needs", keep $55.00 for "money gram" fees, and wire the remaining $2520.00 to another party in Canada. Fortunately, in this case the victim was suspicious and contacted the Hudson Police Department prior to depositing the forged check.

A victim is selling a windshield for $300.00 on "Craigslist.com". The victim is emailed by a "Nicole Wilson" asking to purchase the windshield. "Wilson" states she will send a check from the business where she works. The victim receives another email from "Wilson" stating that her boss accidentally made the check out for $3600.00. "Wilson" asks the victim to deposit the check, keep $400.00 for the windshield and to wire the remaining $3200.00 to "Lizabeth Bonner" in Wichita, KS. After the victim wired the $3200.00, his bank advised him the sender placed a "Stop Cash" order on the check. "Wilson" also stopped responding to emails from the victim after the money was wired.

A victim is selling a vehicle on "Craigslist.com" for $4000.00. A buyer contacts the victim via email and agrees to purchase the vehicle. The buyer sends the victim a bank check for $7500.00. The buyer states he is going to England on business, and requests the victim wire the remaining $3500.00 to him in England. Fortunately in this case, the victim was made aware by his bank that the check was fraudulent prior to wiring the $3500.00.

Another twist on this type of scam involves the seller insisting that a victim wire funds for an item to be purchased. The victim wires the agreed upon purchase price to the seller and never hears from the seller again, or receives the product.

The victim is attempting to purchase a vehicle via the internet. The seller requests the victim wire the $2900.00 purchase price prior to the vehicle being delivered. Once the $2900.00 was wired, the seller was never heard from again, and the vehicle was never delivered.

The victim is attempting to purchase a tractor being sold on Ebay. The victim is contacted by the seller and instructed to make a $4100.00 payment through "Money Gram" to a third party in North Carolina. The victim was to receive the tractor within 5 days of payment. The tractor never arrived.

The Hudson Police Department would ask that sellers be extra careful in any transaction that involves the overpayment of the agreed upon price, and the wiring of overpayment or regular payment via "Money Gram" or "Western Union" or any other similar service.