It’s important that you are armed with information about scams targeting unsuspecting individuals. There is a new mail scheme that uses insurance companies’ names in a ploy involving counterfeit checks, an example of which can be seen here:

This is how the scam works:

Consumers receive checks, like the one above, that appear to be from companies such as Nationwide Insurance, Infinity Insurance or Progressive Insurance. The checks range from $3,500 to $4,900 and come with a letter informing the recipient that they won a $150,000 “Consumer Promotion Draw” because they shopped at select retail establishments during a certain period of time. The letter goes on to explain that the check has been issued to cover a “Non-Resident Government Tax” or “Tax Clearance Fee” that the consumer will have to pay to a British Tax Officer.

Recipients are told that in order to receive the $150,000 prize, they must cash the check and then send between $2,800 and $3,750, by Moneygram International or Western Union Money Transfer, to an address in the United Kingdom. Consumers are given a toll-free number to call, but they are asked not to talk about their winnings until the claim has been processed.

If a consumer were to cash the phony check, they could find themselves owing the bank the entire amount of the check plus additional fees charged by the bank.

Remember, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Please be sure to utilize the SHARE TAB at the bottom of this article to pass this information onto anyone that you feel would benefit from this information.