Scam artists targeting St. Cloud residents

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: October 31, 2008 - 10:32 AM

Police in St. Cloud, Minn., say scam artists are targeting residents who are receiving Social Security or disability payments with offers to become secret shoppers.

It's not a new scam, said Sgt. Jerry Edblad, but at least four people have fallen for the scheme in which recipients are mailed money grams or bank checks that look legitimate, told to cash them and then wire money back to another address.

One victim reported that she lost $2,200 and a St. Cloud bank said four other people have fallen victim to similar scams in recent weeks.

In the latest scam, recipients are sent a check and told to cash it at a check-cashing operation. They are instructed to keep $100 and wire the remainder money to a specific address, this time to one in California. They also are told to fill out a form to rate the check-cashing service.

"They think they are making a $100 by doing a quick transaction," Edblad said. "It's bogus and they are feeling a little duped."

So far all the victims have said they receive Social Security or disability payments and police think that's why they might be being contacted.

"If you have to send money for terms of employment, it's not legit," Edblad said.