A woman contacted Portsmouth police after discovering that her daughter had deposited two suspicious $800 checks sent by a stranger she met through Snapchat.
The caller told officers an unknown person sent her daughter images of the checks by email. Her daughter then deposited both checks into her bank account.
The deposits, totaling $1,600, were still listed as pending when the mother learned what had happened.
She immediately suspected a scam and attempted to contact the bank. However, because it was Saturday, the family was having trouble reaching anyone who could stop or flag the deposits.
The daughter showed an officer pictures of the checks. According to the police report, they appeared as though they could be fake or forged.
No money had been taken from the account at the time of the report, and the daughter had not reported sending any of the money to the person from Snapchat.
Police documented the incident and advised the family to contact the department again if any money was taken.
How the Fake-Check Scam Works
The biggest danger in a fake-check scam comes after the check appears in the victim’s bank account.
Banks may show a deposit as pending or even make some of the money available before discovering that the check is fake. That does not mean the check has actually cleared.
The scammer will often come up with a reason the victim needs to send some of the money back. They may claim the check was written for too much, ask the victim to purchase something for them, or request payment through a money-transfer app, gift card, or cryptocurrency.
The victim sends real money to the scammer, believing the deposited check has covered it.
Days or even weeks later, the bank discovers that the original check was forged, stolen, or connected to an account that does not exist. The bank removes the $1,600 deposit, and the account holder is responsible for any money already spent or sent away.
That can leave the victim with an empty or overdrawn account while the scammer disappears.
What to Do After Depositing a Suspicious Check
Anyone who deposits an unexpected check from a stranger should avoid spending or transferring any of the money.
Contact the bank as soon as possible and ask for the fraud department. Explain that the check may be fraudulent and provide any messages, email addresses, usernames, or screenshots connected to the person who sent it.
Do not send money back, buy gift cards, or transfer funds at the stranger’s direction, even if the deposited amount appears in the account.
Unexpected checks from strangers on Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, or other social media platforms should be treated as a major warning sign.
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