Janesville couple catches mail scam
Photo
Don and Judy Jones of Janesville display the bogus check they received in a scam that claims to be associated with Reader's Digest.
JANESVILLE — At first glance, it looked real enough.
A check for $3,679 from a bank account at JP Morgan Chase, cleanly cut, complete with routing number and signature. An accompanying letter informed Don Jones that he had won a lottery from Reader’s Digest.
Jones was ecstatic.
“I was about to make arrangements at the airport for a flight out of town,” Jones joked.
But his wife, Judy, was more skeptical.
First off, the Janesville couple hadn’t subscribed to Reader’s Digest for some time.
Secondly, the letter, sent by “Thomas D. Tady,” said the couple had actually won $125,000. Yet, the letter said the check was sent to help pay a “Govt. Service Tax,” which would amount to $2,981.10. It then listed the number for an agent, who would receive their wire transfer.
On top of that, the also check seems to have been signed from beyond the grave by former President Gerald R. Ford.
After a quick Google search, Judy discovered it was a scam. A call to Reader’s Digest confirmed it. If Readers Digest had sent the check, it would have been in a certified, registered envelope.
The Joneses didn’t call the agent’s number listed on the letter, which has a Toronto area code. Several calls placed Thursday by the Gazette reached only an answering machine with a full mailbox.
Judy said the couple recently got out of a scam involving installation of a home security system. After that ordeal, she said they wouldn’t be taking any chances.
Although she was able to do a quick search through the Internet, Judy suspects some older couples might not have the means to discover the fraud before it’s too late. So she’s warning anyone else who might have gotten the letter.
“I just don’t want to see anyone be taken of their hard earned money,” she said. “It just irks me.”
REAL OR FAKE?
Have you gotten a check in the mail with a letter saying you’ve won lots of money? Here are some things to think about.
-- If the company or person sending it asks you to pay upfront, it’s likely a fraud. Be wary of letters that ask for personal information such as bank account or credit card numbers.
-- Do not cash the check or send money or information. While the check might clear at first, it might take weeks before it’s discovered to be a fake. If you’ve already cashed the check, the bank will demand the money back and can take legal action to get it.
-- Report it to the proper authorities. If you receive a check or letter through the mail attempting to scam you, fill out a fraud report with the U.S. Mail Inspection Service. Forms can be found at https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx/ You also can contact local police or the Federal Trade Commission.
-- For more information, go online to the National Consumers League website on check scams at fakechecks.org/prevention-faqs.html or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.
Jun 22, 2010 at 9:27 a.m.
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I love these scams for their humor. I get asked at least once a week by somebody trying to get their millions of dollars out of Nigeria and badly needs my help! But it is sad when somebody actually falls for one of these scams.
Jun 21, 2010 at 6:59 p.m.
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Farfnik, the worst part about this is, many of our senior citizens grew up in an era that depended on trust and faith and the goodwill of others. The internet is beyond comprehension for so many.
And when they receive DIRECT CONTACT, they get scared. It has happened to MY parents, and it is irritating to know how villainous these creeps can be. I'm sure you've read the stories.
Jun 21, 2010 at 6:49 p.m.
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First of all, RUserious is right, leave others alone. Then, yes they need to keep printing these stories, a lot of people do not have cable or the internet and third, wikipedia should be call wackypedia and contains info. from various sources some of which are misleading.
Jun 21, 2010 at 12:39 p.m.
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Nice teeth, Sandman!!!! :)
Jun 21, 2010 at 8:25 a.m.
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gma-WHY did you bring my name up in here, where I haven't even left a comment? And your comment (about me) didn't even make any sense...." If you aren't concerned, then go play with RUSerious... He seems to have a fetish for vulnerable souls..."
You are correct, I am concerned about the vulnerable...that is my my work, and I agree that, though it is an old scam, it IS news that people should be reminded of because there will always be someone who hasn't heard of it, and new forms of it will always pop up. And, I'm guessing, some people's judgment might be clouded if or when it happens to them.
Now-please refrain from referring to me just because we may have had different opinions in an unrelated story. How childish.
BTW-I am female.
Jun 20, 2010 at 8:13 p.m.
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Sandman... this IS news, as it is targeting our most vulnerable population. If you aren't concerned, then go play with RUSerious... He seems to have a fetish for vulnerable souls, real or otherwise... And takes up causes that have no bearing in the real world.
These shysters know their target audience and the vulnerability that abounds. This could be YOUR inheritance they're screwing with, or simply your parents' livelihood to exist on, without having to move in with YOU!
This IS a big deal... in decades past, scams were NOT prevalent and they were easy to identify. Nowadays, with our aging society, the elderly are easy targets. Pay attention ...
Jun 20, 2010 at 7:01 p.m.
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This is news?
Those who it is meant to help won't get it, and those who get it already don't need it. As it is meant to be, Nature culls (or here attempts to "fleece") the old, the young, and those with suppressed immune systems (or in the case of these scams, suppressed "sensibility" systems).
At least this couple didn't fall for it, but others will no matter how many warnings or well-meaning articles. It's just like the angler fish and its little faux "bait" on the end of a living forehead pole, working the area in front of its mouth! See (see!):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angler_fish...
Jun 20, 2010 at 11:06 a.m.
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As someone who has won large prizes in the past, there are some simple rules that can protect you from scams. First, if the prize is over $600 you have to fill out a notarized affidavit for tax purposes. If you receive a check without going through this process it is a scam. Second, if the company gives you an address or phone number outside the USA, and you're not dealing with online poker winnings, it's most likely a scam.
Jun 20, 2010 at 8:14 a.m.
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This is just plain sad! Scamming our senior citizens with fixed incomes. Sickos!
Jun 19, 2010 at 11:45 p.m.
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Don't forget the rich widow with no one to leave her money to!
Jun 19, 2010 at 11:18 p.m.
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Next thing someone will tell me is that my inheritance from a person in Nigeria I don't know is a scam too!! It can't be, I have an email to prove it!!
Jun 19, 2010 at 9:54 p.m.
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Never cash a "free" check. jmo
Jun 19, 2010 at 5:49 p.m.
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It's The Federal goverment after more of our money
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