Check Fraud on the Rise -- National Consumer Protection Week March 2-8

The U.S. Postal Service is asking consumers to be informed and use common sense in an attempt to fight growing fraud during National Consumer Protection Week March 2-8. Sarah A. "Sally" Florio, manager of consumer affairs for the Massachusetts Postal District, said the Postal Service theme this year is: Don't Fall for a Fake Check Scam. "All of them involve receipt of a check which looks genuine and will be accepted for cashing by most banks. The scammers convince the victim, that for one reason or another, all or part of the check needs to be immediately wired out of the United States. If the victim takes the bait and wires the money away, he or she will be on the hook to repay that money to the bank when the check is later found to be counterfeit," she said.