ANA Consumer Alert

[DC Dawg]

Just received today via email:

 

NEWS

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2007

 

CONSUMER ALERT

 

CONTACT: Susan Mc Millan

 

Telephone: 719-482-9850

 

email: consumerawareness@money.org

 

 

BEWARE OF FRAUDULENT CASHIER'S CHECKS

It has come to our attention that several dealers have

received fake cashier's checks from an individual in

California. This individual has two known aliases and might

have more we are not yet aware of: Marcus Smith dba Sunset

Pointe Coin; Lawson, Colbert & Associates; and Williams,

Smith & Associates; and James Gilmore dba Gilmore, Ellis &

Associates. The various addresses used by this individual

have all turned out to be mail box drop-off centers.

 

Detective Joe Pena of the Los Angeles County Sheriff

Department confirmed that this individual has targeted

various dealers who advertise in the Bank Note Reporter and

in Coin World. However, Detective Pena suspects his

activity is not limited to these two sources. Detective

Pena is trying to determine the extent of this person's

activities as well as locate and arrest him.

 

If you receive(d) an order for coins or paper money

accompanied by a cashier's check you suspect was sent by

this individual, or if you have any information regarding

this individual, please contact Detective Pena or the ANA as

soon as possible. Detective Pena can be reached at (562)

906-5404 or e-mail at jjpena@lasd.org.

 

Detective Pena has provided the following tips on how to

safeguard yourself against fake cashier's checks:

 

Examine the cashier=s check closely and look for the

following:

 

1. Authentic cashier=s checks have a microprint signature

line and there is no text of any kind underneath that line.

 

2. Examine the border of the check. Do you see a microprint

border around all of its edges? It should be there and it

should also have a watermark printed on the back.

 

3. Locate the name of the financial institution that issued

the cashier=s check. Get an actual phone number for the

business through the internet or directory assistance, call

them and ask for verification that the check is good.

 

4. Do not think that because someone at your bank has

examined the cashier's check and assured you that it is

valid, you will be safe later when the check turns out to be

fake. You are responsible for all checks deposited into

your account. Also, under federal law, banks have to make

funds you deposit available, usually within 5 days. Just

because you can withdraw the money does not mean that the

check was good. Weeks later, when the bank is notified that

the cashier=s check is fake, the amount will be deducted

from your account. The bank has the right to do so and you

will not have any recourse.

 

The ANA would like to personally thank Laura Kessler (ANA

Member 3126448) of Kessler Coin & Currency for her countless

hours of research and assistance with this investigation.

[comicAL]

Hi, ScottB

 

Thank you for posting this ANA consumer alert! This guy will be caught!

 

AAJ