Beware Of Work-At-Home Scams, Sheriff Says

BRADENTON, FL — The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be very wary of work-at-home offers found on the Internet.

“In three recent cases, the victims have been scammed out of several thousand dollars,” the agency wrote in an email to media.

The scams involve a victim getting “hired” and then being sent a check for several thousand dollars. Once the check is deposited into the victim’s bank account, the “employer” instructs the person to keep a small amount for their first payment and then deposit the rest into the employer’s account.

While that might sound like a pretty good deal, the sheriff’s office says it’s not. Not too long after depositing the check and withdrawing funds for the employer, the victim learns the original check was a fake.

“By the time law enforcement gets involved, the bank accounts are closed and all the names used are fraudulent,” the agency wrote.

Manatee County detectives believe the scam originates outside of the country, making it even more difficult to shut down the bad guys. With that in mind, residents are urged to exercise caution when looking at job opportunities online. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Anyone with questions about the scam or others like it can contact the sheriff’s office at 941-747-3011 for help.

Image via Shutterstock

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