Sign-up and post on Iberkshires today.It's Free!
Already a member? Log In
45°  H- 66%
The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.
Monday December 1, 2008
 Make us your homepage!
 

Daily Digest

Like to Write?
Passionate about local sports? Into the environment? Obsessive about local meetings?

Let your neighbors know what's going on in Berkshire County! iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more.
Got Flu?
Track its spread through Google!
How much is heating oil this week?
How to get heating help
Win a restaurant gift certificate.
Need to contact iBerkshires? Here's how.

Obituaries

Mildred Clark Lasher, 99
Gerald J. Baclawski, 71
Gino J. Cortesi, 83
Adrien "Lefty" Lefevre, 85
Peter G. Arlos, 82
Former Pittsfield councilor
More obituaries

What's Playing


A television-hero pup (John Travolta) thinks he's a real superdog in the Disney film "Bolt."
Movie schedules and times

Sales Fliers

 
 

Columnists

That's Life

Dealing with Dirty Laundry

Independent Investor

Economy Will Dictate Agenda, Not President

Pick of the Week

Staind

Sports 'N Stuff

NFL Midseason Report Card



Other Stuff

Long Waits at State's Unemployment Offices
Federal government has 8,000 job openings
The president-elect's new Web site
www.change.gov

 Search: 
 for    

Related Stories

 
Printer Friendly Version
   Recommend this story to a friend

Williamstown Residents Warned of Check Scam

By Jen Thomas - February 21, 2008
iBerkshires Staff

WILLIAMSTOWN - Police are warning town residents to keep an eye out for a check scam that began circulating in the region over the last year.

Following reports of a similar scam in Bennington, Vt., and Hoosick Fall, N.Y., last year, Police Chief Kyle J. Johnson issued a statement on Wednesday that warned citizens of an operation - purporting to be from Toronto - that issues fraudulent checks to random "winners" and then asks for a portion of the funds to "pay the government applicable tax fees."

"The 'winner' is advised by the scamming company that they accidentally overpaid the amount owed in applicable taxes and that the 'winner' should cash the check, keep half of the amount and send the other half back to the company. Once done, they promise to forward the balance of the prize," said Johnson. "The victim is usually notified a short time later by the bank that the check was phony, and now the victim is responsible for paying back the entire amount."

Police were informed of the scam this week when a resident, who had received a letter stating that the individual had won a sweepstakes, called to ask the chief's advice on whether or not the prize was legitimate. Calls to State Street Bank & Trust, the issuing bank, confirmed that the check was counterfeit.

The correspondence comes from "Dominion Financial Award Inc." and assigns each individual with claim number and a "claim analyst" who will walk you through the process to receive the winnings, which includes sending an untraceable MoneyGram back to the agency.

A call on Wednesday to the number provided by Dominion in the letter reached an answering machine saying no one was available. A second attempt earlier today said the call could not be put through.

Johnson said he was not aware of any other Berkshire towns hit by the scam but he warned residents to destroy a Dominion check if they receive one.

"Never respond to these notices and never give out any personal or banking information," he said.

Tips on avoiding being scammed are available on Attorney General Martha Coakley's Web site.
Your Comments
Post Comment
I love these "warnings" we see every few months. Gimme a break...if you're stupid enough to believe that a random check in the mail is legit, then you deserve everything coming to you when you cash it.
from: CommonSenseon: 02-22-2008

When I lived in North Adams, I got a check just like this. It was from Toronto, and it was a cashiers' check for $3,500.

After I moved to Adams, I received one a few months after, basically the same thing and for the same amount.

I ripped both up!
from: Heatheron: 02-22-2008



iBerkshires.com Text Ads
www.williamsinn.com
www.freightyardpub.com
www.iberkshires.com
www.iberkshires.com
Advertise on iBerkshires.com



Essentials
Berkshire Nightlife
Berkshire Photos
Berkshire Wallpaper
Borrow Movies
Class Reunion Page
Columnists
Dannyoart.com
Movie Times
Obituaries
Randy Trabold

Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter

| Home | A & E | Automotive | Business | Community News | Dining | Lodging & Travel |
| Real Estate | Schools | Sports & Outdoors | Berkshires Weather | Weddings | Berkshires Map |
Advertise | Recommend This Page | Help
Contact Us | Privacy Policy| User Agreement
Execution Time: 248 ms