ScamVictimsUnited.com

I was scammed in April on one of these counterfeit money order rackets. A man sent me the money orders. When I took them into the bank I asked them to verify they were legitimate because they had come from Nigeria and I wanted to be extra careful. The man who had sent them told me he was there on business with ExxonMobil and I had also checked with friends in Texas to see if they had people working there before I even agreed for him to send them. Anyway, when they ended up being counterfeit, I was called up to the bank on the pretense of signing a statement but they held me there with the threat of prosecution until I called my brother to ask for the money. My brother wasn't available so I was allowed to leave on the condition I come up with the money. The next day the Chief of Police visited me and pointed out that I needed to pay the bank because this was a small town and if they sued me they would ensure I never did business in this town again. There was no way I could pay the money back if I wanted to, I only had SSI and child support, and my family wasn't going to co-sign a loan. So, the bank sued, court was this morning and the judge basically disregarded everything I said in the courtroom.
Now I'm considering my options. Do I appeal the case? Do I take it to the press and make their lives a living hell? I'm looking for work in another city so I can move away but I figure if I can't appeal I can make the bank here, and thus this small town, as notorious as possible in my absence. If I appeal where do I look for an attorney?
Thanks!

Sorry, this was my post. I thought I was logged in.

misinformed44-
Did you court or bank offer to have you make payments on this. The sad part is there are no laws to protect scam victims, so in many cases victims do end up oweing, which is unfair because the banks should be trained to detect bad checks. It is absolutely ridiculous that the banks expect a consumer to detect a fake check, but it is reality (for now)... I would take it to the press!

I'm very sorry to hear you are in the position that you are. I do understand that some banks are really not on the side of their customer. I'm not sure of the amount of money you lost but I can tell you that some banks are on our side. My bank saved me from making a major mistake in the amount of almost a quarter million dollars which I would have been responsible for had they actually wired the money. It took approximately 5 weeks for the actual return of the fraudulent check from the issuing bank. My bank held it for 15 days then released it into my account. This was the reason that I was even going to wire it, the fact that my bank said the check cleared. I had to put pressure on for them to verify funds but after telling them they would be the ones responsible if the wire actually did go thru on their clearing of the check they did call to verify and found that the check was fraudulent. Maybe if more banks were willing to verify and make sure that things are actually good not so many people would be caught in these situations. Good luck to you and as they say the squeaky wheel gets the grease so squeak away.

Well, then I guess it's time to get the law changed. I'll start making a lot of noise. Thanks!

First of all NEVER EVER EVER when you are faced with a lawsuit from banks or other creditors EVER represent yourself in court, likelihood of the judge siding with the bank or creditor is VERY high.

If I were you I would start calling attorneys right now and see what can be done, they may be able to get it looked at again under the pretense that you represented yourself and did not know the law.

I am going to try to find an attorney. I tried to find one for this hearing but the one who agreed to look at the case declined to take it because she had too many cases on board. At that point I had no option but to take it myself. I also tried to get a continuance but the Magistrate refused to give it to me. I was told the whole purpose of Small Claims Court was that I would be able to appear without an attorney and be heard.
Regardless, I am going to try to find one tomorrow. I am also going to hold off on calling the press until I see if the bank harasses me. This is a very small town and in all likelihood something will happen since I said what I did about the bank and police.

Well, I can't afford to appeal so that part is irrelevant. Now I'm trying to find a job out of town. My brother wants me to wait and contact the radio stations and newspapers on my way out the city limits
I did write an article and put it in my ezine. I'm also posting notes on forums to warn others so I think I'm doing about all I can for the moment. If anyone has any more suggestions, I'm open.

write a letter/summary of what happened to you (you can view mine at http://scamvictimsunited.com/our_story.htm )

Then go to http://scamvictimsunited.com/resources_ ... _check.htm and send that letter to every place on that list. I would also suggest sending that letter to the media to try and get even more attention to this scam and your case.

And then contact VERY TYPE OF MEDIA THERE IS! Get the word out there!

Thanks Shawn,
I have the story written and will send it on to those places you mentioned.

Definetely go to the T.V. stations, and let the bank know you are doing so. Sorry to hear about your troubles.

I would have to agree with this. Should we bring back the idea of a letter writing campaign? We would all send a letter with our story to the same place on the same day. I could send it to major media to bring more attention to this scam, and from there get more attention from government officials.

I am getting calls again from news media in different areas of the country, so I thought I better send out the call and get updated info on everyone out there.

If you would be interested in talking to someone in the media in your area please send an email to me

Subject: Scam Victim - (name of the state you live in)

Information to include:
Your name
Your COMPLETE mailing address
Your daytime phone number
Your evening phone number
Your email address

If you want to include when you were scammed and how much you lost that would be helpful for us to keep some "statistics" also.

If I am contacted by a member of the media from your state I will pass this information on to them so that they can contact you directly. The only thing that I ask is that you mention ScamVictimsUnited.com in your interview.

I have a story about the bank alouding two checks clear after I had spoke with them for serveral months. I am on the web looking for people to work together were we can bring a lawsits like the tobacco people. Just like the tobacco suit many people was never able to win a lawsuit again them alone but when the message when all over the world the lawsuit that was unbeatable had been won.

Sign me up! There is another place too put our focues on it will be the FDIC which insurances banks. They have a class program that they put out to the commmunities to learn about banks. It teaches you how to write a check, very little about credit, and little about the process of a bank loan.

We need a lawyer that will be will to help us change the law in court than the bank will not let another check go through. IN GOOD FAITH AND BLIND TRUES I HAVE PUT IN THE BANK FOR 20 YEARS.
My eyes have been open after almost lossing $126,000 which the bank is suing me for $24,000 because the took $7,000 out of my account.
After I was told by a lawyer and the bank that I could go to jail and still have to pay the bank back. It is the American people that have to stop the banks form nowly cash checks they do is no good. I found out that any thing over $5,000 the banks law is to verfity account before cashing any check. The bank process is to put a 5 days hold on the money verifiy the account before letting the money clear. In my case the check cleared in one day but the banker told me to let it set for three days and than I can get the money the samething the Nigeria had told me. Thats one reason I though the check was good. Because the bank was saying the same process.

Faith Burns

We did try to organize a class action lawsuit a few years ago, but no lawyer wanted to take it and we did contact some very HIGH PROFILE law firms.

We are now working with the media to try and bring more attention to this scam. You can join us through the letter writing campaign. Once we get some media attention, then we can turn our focus on sending letters to government contacts.

So please send your story and contact information to
Caroline Mayer
mayerc at washpost.com

and

ABC News
7 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023

Attn:Jennifer - Scam Story Enclosed

Thanks,