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Checks or money orders (drafts) have been deposited into your bank or credit union account by you or a 3rd party and you have not withdrawn the money

Cease all correspondence with the scammers.  Do not open or answers their emails.  If you have caller ID, do not answer their calls.  If you do answer the phone, hang up as soon as you realize who is calling you.  If they persist, blow a whistle into the telephone.  If you are being threatened, please go here: http://www.fraudaid.com/threats.htm

If you have been corresponding with the scammers by email and/or have gone to a web site they told you is theirs, you are at high risk of Identity Theft even if you have bad credit.  Go here: www.fraudaid.com/id_theft.htm.

File a Scam Email Report with our Law Enforcement Support Division.  You will find step-by-step graphic instructions for your email service here: www.fraudaid.com/find_headers.htm.

Drafts deposited into your checking or savings account:

WARNING: If you did not personally make the deposit, ask your bank to verify whether drafts were deposited or money was wired into your account.  If money was wired into your account, click HERE.

Contact your bank branch immediately and ask for the Operations Officer.  If that officer is not available, ask for the Manager. 

Western Union and MoneyGram were designed to send money to friends and family, not to send money to strangers. NEVER WIRE MONEY TO A STRANGER!

Explain that the checks or money orders you deposited are part of an international counterfeit check scam [Payment Processing Scam, Lottery Scam, Overpayment Scam, Relationship Scam, Charity Scam, etc.] and that they will be returned.

Ask for a goodwill letter stating that you warned the bank ahead of time.  You may also be able to negotiate with your bank such that you are not debited the chargeback fee.

If you have automatic deposits contact all parties and change to paper checks for now.

If you are set up for Bill Pay (your bank has instructions to pay certain bills on a pre-determined schedule), contact your creditors, explain the situation, and pay them by money order for now.

Give written instructions that the account is to be closed and zeroed out. 

In one or two days, check back to make certain the account was closed.  You want to make very, very sure that it does not have some small amount of money keeping it open.  Sometimes monthly bank fees or checking account interest will hit on the same day the account is closed.  This will keep the account open and active.

When you open your new account, use a different name.  Example: If your current account reads John Marion Doe with address and phone, open the new account to read J. Doe with no address and phone. 

There is no point in advertising your personal information, plus Identity Thieves will not be able to tell how you sign your name.

If your circumstances do not fit the above solution or if you have difficulties negotiating with your bank, credit union, or law enforcement please write to so we can review your problem and offer alternate solutions or intervention.