Ok, so I recieved money orders for a company that I was suppose to cash and send them the money. Stupid me, I did, but I didn't cash in my bank account, because I don't have one, I cashed at a check cashing place. Well now I'm getting calls from them telling me it was fake and that they are going to file a police report and they want their money. I don't have the money anymore, otherwise I would give it to them. I had no idea that this was a scam...I don't know what could happen to me? Could I go to jail? Or what? It's my understanding that these check cashing places are suppose to call and verify everything before they cash it...if they had done this in the first place, all this could have been avoided. And please don't berate me for being stupid and doing this, I'm doing a pretty good job of that myself. Call it being naive. Any Lawyers out there that can tell me what can happen?
2007-11-02 03:11:34 · 6 answers · asked by Issac T 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You seriously didn't know this was a scam? All you can do now is pay them back.
2007-11-02 03:19:26 · answer #1 · answered by Angela C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You are a criminal for cashing falsified checks in the eyes of the law. The check cashing place has every right to notify the police and probably must do so in order that these bad checks can be written off as bad debt in the eyes of the IRS.
Do expect the police or F.B.I. to be in contact with you concerning this matter.
The best thing for you to do is to become proactive in this matter. First, contact legal representation. If you don't have money I'm sure that you can find a legal group that can assist you or someone willing to work probono. Ask at your church or school for names of lawyers, etc.
Second, meet with your lawyer right away and prepare to go to the authorities yourself. If you kept any of the money from cashing the checks (which I'm sure you did since that's part of the bait to have you cash them) get ready to turn it over to the police.
Depending on the full circumstances, like if you've ever been convicted of a crime and the details of this instance, it's likely you won't see any jail time. It will be up to the agents whether they see a need to make it a criminal matter and if they do it's likely that the judge won't prescribe much more than fines and probation. But the key is to go to the authorities in a timely manner and to be forthcoming with all of the evidence. Your lawyer should help you through all of this.
The worst thing to do is to do nothing and hope it 'blows over'. Things will only get worse if you take that approach.
2007-11-02 03:39:12 · answer #2 · answered by pensacola_sand 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok, did you keep the emails sent by this company? If so, go to the police department first and explain the situation; then take them to the check cashing place so they can get the money orders. But you would have to pay them back (the same thing would have happened if it was a bank)
2ndly, I work for federal law enforcement, so I can say this. If its too good to be true then it is. You don't get something for nothing.
Now my question to you why would you cash money orders out of the clear blue sky for a company when they could have done that themselves?
2007-11-02 03:37:11 · answer #3 · answered by karma 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're on the hook for the full amount of the check they cashed. Most unfortunate that you feel victim to this very old type of crime. There's no such thing as free money.
2007-11-02 03:20:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
your gonna have to prove where the money orders came from. theyre the real scammers right?
2007-11-02 03:20:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pay them back even if you have to make payments. Sorry
2007-11-02 03:21:25 · answer #6 · answered by Brenda 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋