Scam targeting Rescue Groups and Charities
A friend forwarded me this e-mail. Please pass it on to rescues and charities you may work with.
Subject: Shelter Scam Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2007
We are Castaway Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E. ANIMAL RESCUE) - AND WE
WANT TO WARN YOU OF A SCAM. Any shelter could well be targeted-we are a licensed facility located in SW Missouri and have been "in business" for over 15 years.
Recently we received an e-mail from an individual saying he was in
California and would like to send us a donation for all our good works.
We wrote him back saying he could donate via PayPal through
our website, mail a check to our PO Box or adoption center in
Springfield, Missouri. So far so good. We received a cashiers check
written on Washington Mutual Bank for $5,000. Of course we were
thrilled to pieces-we sure could use the money. The check was deposited.
A few days later, we received an e-mail from the donor saying he was so
sorry, but his accountant had made a terrible error and the amount
should have been for $500 and not $5,000 - would we please mail or wire
back $4,500. Of course the red flags went up and we contacted the bank
immediately; they said it sounded like a scam. The real kicker is that a
few days later, our bank called to say it was a
forged check. It was returned to us marked `Refer to Maker-Suspect
Counterfeit' You are responsible for monies deposited in your account!
So the cashiers check goes through and you think it's good because the
cash is deposited.
It's only a few days later that the check is discovered to be forged.
Shelters are perfect targets for this scam although it is horrifying
to think that some low-life would try to cheat a no-kill animal shelter.
This individual e-mailed us several times expressing concern that we had
not wired the money back - it was to be wired to a number and the e-mail
was on Yahoo.
We suspect he was located outside the country - he said he was "on leave
in the Republic of Ireland" - well if you spoke English, you'd say you
were on vacation or on holiday and you would just say "Ireland!" The FBI
has been informed, but frankly the amount was not large enough for them
to bother with-we have also notified Yahoo. Please, please forward this
e-mail to every shelter you know.
If this creep just got one check returned, he is making a good living.
Thank you.
Mary Crawford, President
C.A.R.E. ANIMAL RESCUE"
