Real Deal: Stop the Scammers

A pricey mailing with a big bucks check inside sent to you by a stranger. Would you be suspicious if you got this? Sunny wasn't. And after some e-mail correspondence with a mysterious employer in London she was supposed to cash the checks worth almost $4,000 and send him most of the money.

Sunny Crosby, Scam victim
I remember he sent e-mails to me and was like where's my money? You haven't shipped it yet.

So Sunny went to the bank.

Sunny Crosby, Scam victim
They cashed them instantly no problem.

So wait, you've seen our stories about this, right? How these incredibly authentic looking checks and money orders are actually counterfeit. How if you get one for winning some so-called lottery or for being a mystery shopper or renting your summer place and if you cash it, and if you follow instructions to send back part of the money to a stranger in Europe or Africa you'll wind up a big, big loser. The FBI knows the phony checks are everywhere.

Kevin Swindon, FBI Supervisory Special Agent
It's frustrating from a law enforcement standpoint because there are so many victims.

What happened next to Sunny? You know. The bank notified her that the checks were counterfeit. Now she must pay the bank back.

Problem is: police can't help her. The scammers are across the Atlantic and Sunny's losses are too small for state officials to invest their resources.

Sunny Crosby, Scam victim
I was like, is there anything I can do?

Well, Sunny, the FBI hears you. And here's the Real Deal, the feds tell me they have a new way of fighting back.

Kevin Swindon, FBI Supervisory Special Agent
It's really our first line of defense.

Behind closed doors at FBI HQ, agents are analyzing and organizing all the scam checks and emails to see where there's a pattern.

Kevin Swindon, FBI Supervisory Special Agent
If we can put a bunch of victims together it raises the amount of loss that enables us to move forward with the prosecution.

And that's why the FBI says they want to hear from you. Their new website, ic3.gov, is set up for everyone whether you've been actually scammed or only just contacted by a bad-check artist. Report what happened and using that info they'll work to track down the source and you could make a difference.

Kevin Swindon, FBI Supervisory Special Agent
Hopefully either putting somebody in jail, which is our goal, or helping you get your money back.

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