- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
BY DIANE KRIEGER SPIVAK
Times Correspondent | Sunday, July 25, 2004 | (No comments posted.)
CROWN POINT - After a resident was stung by international Internet fraud last week, the Crown Point Police Department is warning residents to be aware of Internet schemes.
Operation Commander Eldon Strong noted that a resident lost $3,000 recently in an online transaction.
"A resident was selling personal property on the Internet and was contacted by someone in Canada," Strong said. "A transaction took place with the exchange of money."
Strong said the resident sold a vintage car for $2,500 and received a check for $5,500 from England, including shipping. The check bounced after the resident sent a check of his own for $3,000 to an alleged shipping agent in Canada.
The victim then filed a complaint with the Crown Point Police Department, Strong said.
"These types of fraud are difficult to investigate," Strong said. "One suspect is in Canada and another potential suspect is in Europe.
"We're going to investigate it the best we can," Strong said. "It's gone to the police in Ontario."
He said people must be very wary of Internet purchases and scams, noting, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
"We have had Internet scams before," he said. "It's an increasing problem."
Strong said different schemes are used by perpetrators to solicit money from unsuspecting people, including direct e-mail from alleged princes in foreign countries asking them to put up good faith money in order to collect a percentage of money being held at an undisclosed location in the United States.
Sellers at online auctions also offer merchandise, such as electronics when no merchandise exists, then cash an unsuspecting buyer's check. Internet sweepstakes fraud claimed an Indiana victim last month when a college student sent more than $18,000 in so-called processing fees in an attempt to collect bogus sweepstakes winnings.
"You have to protect yourself," Strong said.
To report Internet fraud www.ifccfbi.gov.
Back to story No comments posted.
- It wasn't clear, concise or focused on the topic in the story.
- It was a personal attack, vulgar, explicit or degrading, used actual or implied profanity or contained potentially libelous statements.
- It accused someone of being guilty of a crime.
- It promoted violence or illegal acts.
- It contained telephone numbers or street addresses, or e-mail addresses and links to Web sites other than nwi.com or government agencies.
In no way do these comments represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises.
Passionate views, pointed criticism and critical thinking are welcome. Name-calling, crude and profane language and personal abuse are not welcome.
Reader comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined. They may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
If you feel a posted comment has violated these guidelines, please email our New Media team the commenter's name, the comment and a link to the article.
For more information please read our Terms of Service.