Letter to the editor: Beware of fraud

There is a fraud going around. The scheme is to respond to an ad in a local paper to buy a boat, RV or other recreational items. The supposed buyer says they want the product and will send a cashier’s check for the agreed amount and an additional fee that will pay a mover or transporter to pick up the item and ship it.

The buyer says he is just moving from the area and can’t pick it up. The check they send is fraudulent and if you deposit the check and pay the mover fee, which they want right away, you will lose the money you send to the mover. You will still have your product but will have lost the check you sent out to the transporter of the item.

This just happened to me. I advertised a fishing boat in the Sky-Hi News. I was warned to make sure the check totally cleared before sending out the mover fee. I actually had my local bank investigate the check before depositing it and they proved it was fraudulent. I then canceled the sale with the scammer via text and email.

Watch your back.

Tim Schowalter
Granby resident

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