Sellers Alert!In a variation of the "Nigerian Scam," some credit union members have been approached by scam artists posing as buyers. In this version of the scam, the "buyer" offers to purchase the item for sale but sends a cashiers check for an amount in excess of the purchase price. Then, the seller is asked to wire the excess amount to the fraudulent buyer. Later, the cashiers check is returned as a counterfeit item, and the depositor is responsible to make restitution to the financial institution for the full amount of the check.
Be aware of this scam in the event you are approached with a similar offer. For more detailed information on this and other scams, go to www.quatloos.com. To report an incident, go to the Secret Service website at www.secretservice.gov. Through its financial crimes division in Washington, the Secret Service is the central repository for complaints about Nigerian fraud and is in charge of educating the public about the forms the frauds take.
