Translator Scam Dupes Fairfax Woman: Police

FAIRFAX, VA—Translator scams often prey on professionals as much as unsuspecting folks merely looking for some extra income. A Fairfax woman in the 4000 block of Hallman Street fell victim to just such a scam last month, she told Fairfax Police this week.

She said that in early February, she received a job offer via email to become a translator, and promptly agreed. On Feb. 23, she received a package containing papers that needed to be translated. Seems she also received a check with instructions to cash it, and then wire half the money back to the sender.

So she did just that. Soon thereafter, however, she received a notification from her bank that the check she deposited had bounced. She realized she likely had been duped and contacted police.

According to the American Translators Association, such scams are becoming more and more common, and it offers a wide variety of preventive measures.

Same for the website ProZ.com, which has a Translator Scam Alert Center. That one really burrows down into specifics.

Image via Patch