The Fayetteville Police Department is warning residents to be aware of a scam that sounds legitimate but, in the end, cost a local man $17,000.
Det. Mike Whitlow in describing what happened said a Fayetteville man is out over $17,000 after responding to an online ad for employment. The ad promised $1,000 for two weeks worth of research for an online concierge service.
Whitlow said the Fayetteville victim completed the research and submitted his invoice for payment. He was requested to send his bank account information to the company to enable a direct deposit. He received a deposit of over $9,000 into his account a few days later. He was then contacted, told he had accidentally been over-paid and was asked to send $8,000 via Western Union to a person in Russia. Once the money was sent via Western Union, the money was immediately withdrawn from his bank account leaving him responsible for the original deposit plus the money he wired, Whitlow explained.
The Fayetteville Police Department has issued the following advisement:
-Do not respond to online or emailed ads from unknown or non established sources.
-If you cannot meet your boss face to face, you do not want to work for them.
-Never send money to anyone you do not know, period.
-Check the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org, the Internet Crime Complaint Center, www.ic3.gov, and Federal Trade Commission, ftc.gov websites for information about businesses and complaints.
Whitlow reminded citizens that if something seems to good to be true, it probably is.
The Fayetteville Police Department is still investigating the incident. If anyone has been a victim of this scam, they are encouraged to contact Detective Mike Whitlow at the Fayetteville Police Department at 770-461-4441.
