BURTON, Ohio – Geauga CU hopes it has spoiled holiday plans for one check scammer who allegedly has been using phony CU checks in attempts to buy items off Craig’s List.
Geauga CU recently became the target of a teller check scam operation that so far has totaled more than $10,000 in counterfeit checks. One check, totaling $3,800, appears to be from the credit union but contains fraudulently obtained account numbers, the CU reported.
Compliance Officer Sue Fisher believes the checks, possibly as many as 14, are originating from New Jersey. The crook is sending out the checks via a stolen UPS account number.
“We think the exposure could be $50,000, as the person seems to be sending out checks for around $3,000 each and we think there may be 14 phony checks he is using that are drawn off a corporate account. We think it will stop, as we have blocked all of his efforts so far, plus the person who owns the stolen UPS account has blocked that account as well.”
The credit union has placed a warning on its website about the fraudulent activity.
