Internet payment scams growing

Be skeptical, police say, when someone pays with a check or money order and wants cash back.

By DAVID HENCH, Staff Writer

June 18, 2007

 

The offer couldn't have been better.

The unemployed Portland woman had posted her rsum [sic] on an Internet classified advertising site and soon heard from a company that wanted a "secret shopper" to buy products and gift cards at area stores to gauge customer service.

The company sent her money orders to cover expenses and her $120 fee, with instructions for her to send back the remaining $500.

The shock came when her bank called to say the money orders she cashed were fake and she was on the hook for $920.

"Almost weekly, somebody's being scammed for hundreds or thousands of dollars," said

Portland police Sgt. Robert Martin, who heads a team of detectives investigating property crimes. He is frustrated because tracking down the out-of-town, often out-of-country, scam artists is beyond the ability and resources of a local police force.

Police and bank officials say protecting people from their own trusting nature is hard. The most effective way of stopping the scams is for people to be more skeptical.    

In the “deal,” $3,885 is to be transferred to Ontario, Canada and $835 is to be kept for the person initiating the transaction. The logos of Wal-Mart, FedEx, Target, GAP, Pepsi and Kmart are at the bottom of the letter to make it look official.