Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas

Latest News

Discussion

February 14, 2007

New scam hits town

Resident receives big check in mail

When local resident Sue Bowling went to her mailbox this past week, she was a little surprised with the contents inside.

“I received a letter in the mail stating that I had won $200,000 and there was a check in the amount of $1,980,” Bowling stated via e-mail to the Daily Sun.

Bowling, who was unable to be reached by phone Tuesday, went to her bank and verified that the check was real. She did not deposit it or try to cash it.

Corsicana Police Sgt. Darrell Waller said scams such as these have been occurring more and more frequently.

“The bottom line is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Waller said.

Waller said a lot of people get greedy and fall prey to these types of scam artists.

Fortunately, Bowling went home and did some research on the Internet and found out this was indeed a scam.

“They hope you’ll cash the check and Western Union them the $1,850 for handling and insurance charges. Then the check bounces and you are in the hole. The check is real, but stolen,” she said.

Bowling went so far as to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report this and wanted to get the word out to local residents that this type of scam could happen to them.

Waller suggests calling the postmaster when it comes to money in the mail. He also urges residents to not deposit any checks that come in the mail.

“Anytime they ask for cash up front before releasing funds, it is a scam,” he said.

A lot of scam artists use the mail, some use the phone and others the Internet.

One of the problems law enforcement officials run into in prosecuting scam artists is finding the person.

“A lot of times they are in another state or even in another country, so it is hard to prosecute and build a case against them,” Waller said. “It is almost impossible to trace them.”

Waller said the postmaster and police department are the places to report fraud.

—————

AJ Narasimhan may be contacted via e-mail at ajn@corsicanadailysun.com

Text Only
Latest News
  • 2-7 CISD Kids.jpg CISD quartet out to win cuisine competition

    They’ve been at it for months.
    Just enough of this, just enough of that, cooked “just so.”
    For four teens from Corsicana High School, Tuesday holds a special thrill for them as they compete in the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association’s  ProStart Culinary Competition at Arlington Convention Center.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-7 Gander Deer.jpg Gander Mountain now home to small deer population

    When Gander Mountain opened in August of 2004, it did so with an outdoor ATV track, giving potential buyers an avenue, of sorts, to test models out. The last several years, that patch of grass has been barren.
    Not anymore.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • Texas voting district battle leaves April 3 vote in limbo

    A federal judge ordered all sides in the Texas redistricting lawsuit to keep talking Monday, just hours after the attorney general announced a compromise plan that prompted immediate pushback from several minority groups involved in the case.

    February 6, 2012

  • Minor scratches in bus collision

    Three students on a Blooming Grove Independent School District school bus received minor scratches Monday after an early morning collision with a pickup truck near the school.

    February 6, 2012

  • No action at Navarro College board meeting

    The Navarro College Board of Trustees met in a special, closed session on Monday to discuss personnel.

    February 6, 2012

  • Local Beat for 2/7/12

    A listing of meetings and events of interest from throughout Navarro County.

    February 6, 2012

  • US judge says he can't block Texas sonogram law

    A federal judge on Monday upheld the Texas law requiring women to have a sonogram before having an abortion, saying an appeals court had forced him to declare the law constitutional.

    February 6, 2012

  • Filing begins in city, school elections

    Even as the date of the state primary eleciton remains up in the air, filing began Monday for the city and school board elections slated for May 12.

    February 6, 2012

  • APNewsBreak: LULAC still opposes redistricting deal

    Texas' attorney general agreed Monday to temporary voting maps that add new Hispanic-dominated districts and could save the April 3 date for primary elections statewide. But at least one influential minority group said it would fight the new plan.

    February 6, 2012

  • APNewsBreak: AG accepts Texas redistricting deal

    A congressman's lawyer says the Texas attorney general has agreed to a temporary voting map that could keep the April 3 date for primary elections in Texas.

    February 6, 2012

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is... Raw Video: Deadly Helicopter Crash in Australia Raw Video: Smoke, Purported Gunfire in Syria Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes NJ Museum Finds 19th Century Recording Snow Causes Disruptions in Much of Europe Clinton: Vetoed U.N. Syria Resolution 'travesty' Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses Gingrich Renews Vow to Campaign Until Convention Romney Rolls to Easy Win in Nevada GOP Caucuses Raw Video: Missing Family Found Alive in Ore. Police Clear Tents From Occupy Site in DC
Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter