July 23, 2020
UPDATE: Thursday, July 23 - Scam Alert – Online Fraud!
As of this morning Green Valley Special Utility District was informed of an additional layer to the online scam involving the issuance of “checks” that appear to come from a GVSUD checking account.
A woman in Georgia answered an online ad for a personal assistant/payroll position that allowed her to work remotely. She was then sent several blank checks which she was to fill out and distribute to employees. After distributing eight of the checks, she received an additional 100 blank checks.
At that point, she contacted her local police and reported the situation, turning over the blank checks.
If it sounds too good to be true, remember it generally is.
If you answer an online ad for a job that allows you to work remotely from wherever you are located and sent blank checks which appear to come from GVSUD what should you do?
Most importantly, do not cash or deposit the check. Contact GVSUD and let them know that you received a GVSUD check. GVSUD will forward the information you provide to the local and federal authorities investigating this fraudulent activity.
Other ways scammers have reached out to victims throughout the U.S.:
These checks have appeared throughout the U.S. and have come from scammers reaching out through a variety of online channels including:
- Sale items on Craigslist. The scammer contacts an individual with an item listed for sale, such as a dresser, selling for $300. The scammer sends a check via FED EX or UPS to the individual for $4,500 and the seller informs the scammer she has overpaid. The scammer then tells the seller to send the remainder of the funds back to him via a Zelle app or Paypal.
- A scammer invites an individual to advertise for a company via a sticker on the individual’s car or a complete wrap of their car, again overpaying the individual. The scammer sends a check via FED EX or UPS to the individual. The scammer than asks the individual to text the scammer immediately once they mobile deposit the check, then forward the overpayment via a Zelle app or Paypal.
- As of this morning, scammers have set up fake internet sites that allow individuals to sign up for free items from well-known brands, such as Pepsi, Fit Bit and others. Once the individual enters his email or phone number, he is contacted and sent a fraudulent check from GVSUD via FED EX or UPS. Once again, the individual is overpaid and asked to forward the overpayment to the scammer via a Zelle app or Paypal.
In all cases, the fraudulent checks have been sent via FED EX or UPS via overnight delivery – a guaranteed RED FLAG that this is a scam!!
