I was just curious, because it seemed like a blessing when I received it. I am having financial difficulties right now. I was scared and did a lot of research on it and found out it was a scam. It really looked like a real check and came from National Processing Clearing House claiming I had won the sweepstakes. I no longer have it, but I am wondering should I have just deposited the check and waited for it to clear so I could pay my bills. I know I would eventually end it up owing the bank, but it would have helped a little to have that cash right now and worry about the rest later. I'm just curious - it seems more of a moral issue than anything. Please respond with honest opinions.
2007-05-14 13:00:27 · 11 answers · asked by princess 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
Those checks are determined "bad" by the nightly bank processing. Any checks you would write would likely bounce before they even credited (cleared) the check in your account. That would've cost you more money/debt. Not to mention you would be a scammer too. You were right to not cash the check, both morally and financially. Good job :)
Next time you get one of these in the mail you should bring it to your post office. The post master will want the check and envelope to process the mail fraud. They are really excited to have people turn these in. It gets them closer to catching the scammers.
Seems like everyone is having financial issues these days. I'm not really sure about your situation but this is what someone told me: "Cell phones, computers and cars are luxuries that should be used by people that can afford them. You can use a pay phone, library computer and public transportation (if available)."
Good luck!
2007-05-14 13:11:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really is more than a moral issue - it is a legal issue. If the check was sent to you as a clerical error and you cash it, and then the company was to come back and say that they made a mistake, you would have the legal obligation to pay them back. "Finders keepers, loosers weepers" has no basis in the law. That is why every state has laws on the books requiring their citizens to turn in money found on the street to the police. The police will then do a 'due diligence' search for the owners (which can last from 90 - 180 days), before they will return the money back to you.
There was a recent case that made the newspapers where a man from Vermont was jailed for spending $200,000 from his bank account that was deposited to his account by mistake. When he tried to claim that he was innocent, the judge asked him if he knew he had earned that money. When he said no, he was told that once he noticed the error - even though it was in his favor - he had a legal obligation to notify the bank.
Bottom line: morality aside, you have no legal right to keep money that you know does not belong to you. Spending it and not saying anything could have landed you in jail.
2007-05-14 13:12:39 · answer #2 · answered by DaveInSeoul 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You state that you KNOW you would eventually end up owing the bank. That day will come MUCH sooner than you think. If they can prove you KNEW it was a scam and deposited the check anyway, you can face criminal fraud charges. If money is tight, returned deposit fees and overdraft fees will cost much more that paying your bills late.
2007-05-14 13:33:30 · answer #3 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's best that you not deposit that check. It would more than likely bounce and you would then in turn owe the bank money.
If you were not sure if the check was legitimate or not, you could in turn call the issuing bank and ask to verify the funds
2007-05-14 13:05:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since it was not a legitimate check, had you deposited it, the check would not clear. Had you written checks on your deposit, your checks would have bounced and you would be in more trouble then just being behind on bills.
2007-05-14 13:06:35 · answer #5 · answered by Vida 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to the bank and have to look at it to see if its a real check
2007-05-15 05:25:58 · answer #6 · answered by shorty21 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some guy actually did this once, and it ended up coming back and biting him in the *** hardcore. his account ended up super overdrawn, and he ended up owing way more than he had in there to begin with, and the bank told him "tough luck" it was a front page story on yahoo one day, and was featured on www.i-am-bored.com
2007-05-14 13:06:17 · answer #7 · answered by Ashley M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's not a legit check, it would eventually back fire.
I feel for you, but you can't just act now and think later.
2007-05-14 13:02:59 · answer #8 · answered by Jen due December 09 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You didn't miss a thing, they're not real checks.. :) You did the right thing!
2007-05-14 13:12:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
any real bank would have checked it out for you..you do have an account don;t you..??they will tell you if its real or not..
2007-05-14 13:06:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋