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Police see more flimflamming

Kennebec Journal Staff

STAFF REPORT

Police in Lincoln County are warning the public after at least one resident lost several thousand dollars in a scam.

Detective Terry Michaud of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday his office is investigating a complaint filed by a man who sold a vehicle over the Internet.

Michaud, who offered few details of the ongoing investigation, said the buyer sent the seller a check for $4,400 more than the seller was asking.

The buyer, saying the overpayment was a mistake, asked the seller to cash the check, keep the money for the vehicle, and send the difference back to the buyer.

The seller's bank later informed him the check was no good, Michaud said.

"If you're selling items over the Internet, or through other sources, do not rely on personal checks...and be leery of certified checks, since these are being forged," Michaud said. "The victim is out the money. Sometimes they owe the bank more money than they have in their accounts."

Michaud said other complaints have come from residents who have accepted money wires as favors for people they've befriended on social networking sites on the Internet. The money is then wired overseas to Nigeria.

"It is important for people to realize that they may be charged as accessories to theft by deception if they are involved in one of these scams and assisting in funneling the funds to other countries," Michaud said.

Other scammers are telling victims that they have won thousands, or millions, of dollars in an overseas lottery. The "winner" is told to send money to cover processing fees.

"Eventually the scammers will tell the victim they need tens of thousands of dollars to cover taxes," Michaud said.

The Kennebec County Sheriff Department announced this week it was investigating a report that a Randolph couple lost $240,000 in a lottery scam.

Michaud warned against giving any money to pay for lottery winnings to use caution when selling items via the Internet. He suggested having a local bank examine the check.

"Even if the bank says it's OK, if you're going to cash the check, leave the money in your account and wait several days. Then ask your bank if the check has cleared," Michaud said. "No one should be overpaying and then asking you to return some of the payment."