Thursday, August 28, 2008
E-mail this story E-mail this story Print this story Print this story E-mail updates Get Newsletters Comment on this story

Internet scam targets Merced

By VICTOR A. PATTON
MERCED SUN-STAR

last updated: December 10, 2007 04:14:30 AM

The High Five

Most Emailed Stories

Most Commented Stories

Merced police say international crooks looking to make a quick buck have found plenty of ways to spread holiday misery in Merced.

Since November, investigators say, there have been more than 20 reports of Merced residents who have been victims of international Internet scams offering "fast, easy money."

Detective Don Varney said most of the scams involve e-mails or advertisements from bogus overseas companies offering money for people willing to perform as payees with checks, money orders and traveler's checks sent through the mail, FedEx and UPS.

Varney said most of the scams instruct victims to keep 10 percent of the funds, while wiring the remainder outside the United States. Unknown to the victim, the checks or money orders are counterfeit.

Some victims in Merced have reported losing more than $25,000. Merced police have been working with U.S. Postal Service inspectors to crack down on the online scammers.

Be the first to comment on this story click the 'Add Comment' Tab!


Modbee.com is pleased to be able to offer its users the opportunity to make comments and hold conversations online. However, the interactive nature of the internet makes it impracticable for our staff to monitor each and every posting.

Since Modbee.com does not control user submitted statements, we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted on our website. In addition, we remind anyone interested in making an online comment that responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Modesto Bee.

If you find a comment offensive, clicking on the exclamation icon will flag the comment for review by the administrators, we are counting on the good judgment of all our readers to help us.