Summerville police are warning residents about increasingly convincing fake-check scams after a recent incident involving a fraudulent “product tester” offer.
According to a police report, a local man contacted officers after receiving an email claiming to be from a product-testing company associated with Nike. The email included a check and instructions for the man to deposit it into his personal bank account.
Police say several red flags quickly raised concern. The check arrived already endorsed and referenced the man’s bank, despite him never providing that information. Additionally, the payment instructions did not align with the legitimate company’s standard practices.
When the man questioned the sender about the inconsistencies, the individual admitted to signing the check and insisted it had to be deposited directly through the bank. The man ultimately did not deposit the check and reported the suspected fraud to authorities.
Police say the incident is a textbook example of a fake-check scam, in which scammers persuade victims to deposit counterfeit checks and then pressure them to send money elsewhere before the bank determines the check is fraudulent.
Authorities are urging residents to never deposit checks from unknown or unverified sources and to be wary of unsolicited offers that involve urgent payment instructions. Anyone who suspects a scam is encouraged to contact local law enforcement immediately.