ScamVictimsUnited.com

I am in right in the middle of a fake check scam.
I sold my wedding dress online, was sent a check for over the amount of the item. Cashed the check, wired the balance to the buyer. The the email threats started and he began calling my cell phone and demanding more money. I called the police only to find out that the check must be fake. I called my bnk today to let them know and they are currently investigating it.

Here's my question. Because I sold the dress online I took precautions (obviously not enough though). I went into a bank branch and had them call the other issuing bank to verify the check before cashing it. My bank even faxed a copy to the other bank. That's when I thought ok this is fine to do.

How am I thne liable for the $5500???
Are there any bank laws that protect me since my bank obviosuly told me the check was ok?

This is the part of your story that makes me think that you may have a case against your bank . . . when we became victims OUR back told us that we should have contacted the issuing back to verify that the check was good, but it sounds like that was done in your case so that makes a stronger case for you.

If you live in Minnesota, contact me privately and I will send you the contact information for a wonderful lawyer.

If you live in a state other than Minnesota, please contact

Jim at
The National Center for Victims of Crime
2000 M Street NW, Suite 480
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-FYI-CALL
http://www.ncvc.org

and he can assist you with finding a lawyer in your area. People try and go at these banks without a lawyer have had a MUCH harder time.

Your check may turn out to be a stolen/altered one. This happened to me. If this is the case, it will take months for the check to come back. Also, was the check drawn on a Canadian Bank? This takes longer because the party that was actaully due the money, will start investigating. The issuing bank will file a claim against the bank where the money was deposited.

Proper check verification process is NOT to contact the issuing bank , it is to contact the Account Holder to ask if they did issue you the check. The issuing bank can ONLY tell you if there is enough money in the account to cover the check, they dont know if it was really given to you by the account holder.