
Brick Police Warn Residents Of Fake Check Scam
There are few better surprises than getting unexpected money from a hefty check in the mail, but an Ocean County police department is warning residents that something that looks too good to be true probably is.
In a Facebook post, the Brick Township Police Department shared a photo of a check that a local resident received in the mail.
At first glance, it looks legit, and it's an impressive check too, written for $1,850.00.
But the Department says that a healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing, and the check is likely fake.
Here's what it looks like:
Brick isn't the first town to see this kind of thing recently, either.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has a warning on their website:
Simply put, you receive a check out of the blue, perhaps by registered mail or other delivery method that requires a signature. No instructions accompany the check—but FINRA suspects that once you deposit the check, you may further entangle yourself with the fraudster.
In a nutshell, if you're not expecting someone to send you money, it's probably a scam.
If you get a suspicious check in the mail, the FINRA article goes on to say that you should contact your local police and the U.S. Postal Inspectors Service.