Beware of scam checks arriving by UPS

I want to warn readers that there are some Internet "work at home" scams that are sending out what look like American Express Traveler checks, wanting people to deposit them into their personal bank accounts and sending a portion of the money to some foreign person and you keep 10 percent for your trouble.

I received four checks over the past weekend in the sum of $500 each and they appeared to be normal. Upon close inspection, the holographic image didn't look right. I took them to Wells Fargo Bank downtown and it also found flaws in the watermark. They were counterfeit.

I contacted the branch of the FBI that deals with Internet scams and crimes and let the FBI know the name of the company and where it wanted the money sent. These are just now starting to appear in Iowa, and banks and stores are not yet aware of this fraud and are cashing these checks.

Readers need to be on the lookout for these scam artists. They send the checks by UPS, and if you cash these checks, you are the one responsible for repayment.

William Hollenbeck

Center Point