Can I be held responsible for cashing a fake check?

Question

I just got a phone call from CheckSmart in columbus ohio informing me that I cashed a Counterfiet Check. They demand payment of $3,800. by friday the 11/24/06 by noon or they will issue a warrent for my arrest can they do this since I didn't know it was a lottery scam. I wired $3720.00 to the person I was supposed to and now I don't know what to do I can't go to jail but I can't pay the money back because I am 8 Mos. Pregnant and don't have a job and my husband only makes enough for us to get buy, I told CheckSmart that I would be willing to make payments until it is paid off but they said no. Can someone help me please

Answer 1

What a horrible situation. I'm sorry that you are going through all this while the people who made that check are still out there and doing it to others. My husband recently sent me a money order to put some money in my account and at first I was mad that the Bank said they have to put a 20 day hold on it. Now I understand because there have been so many scams. I would try talking to a Lawyer. Most will talk to you for free over the phone and let you know if they can help you or not.

Answer 2

Yes. You are liable for the money. I'm very sorry to have to tell you this, but this is one of the most common of the '419' scams. At least you will be educated and can tell others that there is no lottery and there is no money. (Remember, you can't win a lottery unless you have entered. And you shouldn't have to pay fees or wire money to someone when you do!)

As much as other people may tell you that it's no more than a slap on the wrist, what you have done is not the same thing. What most of them did was to cash one of their OWN checks which later turned out to be NSF. You have been instrumental in passing a Counterfeit CHeck, defrauding a company of of more than $1500 which puts you into the Felony Fraud area. Instrumental in that YOU took the check into get it cashed and YOU got the money. Never mind that youwere duped, YOU did the deed, YOU must pay the consequences. As far as the check cashing place knows, you did it with full knowledge of the worth of the check.

Perhaps if you called them and told them what has happened, they could work out a payment schedule for you. I see you hafve already suggested that, but now perhaps you should get a lawyer involved. Call the public defender's office and see if you can get some help. Show CheckSmart the payment you made to the scammer as proof you didn't get that much out of the deal. There's no guarantee that they will accept it, but it's worth a try. In the long run, you may end up in court.

Answer 3

I was in that same situation too. But all they did to me was put me on check systems for 5 years. Which means that I can't have a bank account for 5 years. Although my friend was in the same situation, but they sent her to collections and also but her on check systems.