Edmonds Police Department Issues a Caution About Online Scams

The Edmonds Police Department has learned of a scam intended to bilk people out of thousands of dollars.

In criminal cases now under investigation, citizens became involved in exchanges with other unknown individuals on a commonly used online private marketing source. The e-mail conversations were initiated for different, seemingly legitimate reasons. Two common examples:  employment opportunities and apartment rentals.

During the course of the ongoing conversation, the suspect requests assistance from the intended victim by receiving a check written for a great sum of money.  If the victim is willing to receive the check, immediately deposit it into their personal bank account and then generate their own check to be sent to a third, typically out-of-state individual, any money left over from the original check can be theirs.

Of course, by the time the victim’s bank processes the original, big-dollar check, it’s determined to be fraudulent.  The end result is that the victim may end up sending thousands of their hard-earned dollars to an unknown individual who is never heard from again.

The Edmonds Police reminds residents to proceed with caution.