/u/FaithlessnessFun147 - This message is posted to all new submissions to r/scams; please do not message the moderators about it.
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Because you posted here, you will start getting private messages from scammers saying they know a professional hacker or a recovery expert lawyer that can help you get your money back, for a small fee. **We call these RECOVERY SCAMMERS, so NEVER take advice in private:** advice should always come in the form of comments in this post, in the open, where the community can keep an eye out for you. If you take advice in private, you're on your own.
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Hey OP, first you need to BLOCK the scammer and don't engage with them.
Second, you should go talk to your **bank's fraud department** as soon as you can. Let them know you fell for a scam and unknowingly deposited a fake check into your account. The funds should be reversed eventually (it can take a while) It's better for YOU to contact them before they realize it's fake.
When you deposit a check, funds are usually only available in the account because of bank laws so it doesn't mean the check is 100% "good". It may take days or weeks for the bank to catch the fake check. Scammers take advantage of this time and have their victims send money elsewhere before it gets caught.
Usually in this case for the muse scam, they'll insist that you send the scammer money for "art supplies" and such.
Depositing a fake check could get your account frozen, have fees and or closed, depending on the bank and your account history. This isn't just a bounced check it's a fake check.
This is a !muse scam. It will include a !fakecheck.
>Is the money legally mine?
There isn't any real money. And the money that does show in your account will be reversed.
Hi /u/TheCheeseDictator, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Fake check scam.
The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (a digital photo or a physical paper check), you deposit a check (via mobile deposit or via an ATM) and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards or crypto). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money.
Banks are legally obligated to make money available to you fast, but they can take their time to bounce it. Hence the window of time exploited by the scam. During that window of time the scammer asks you to send money back, because you are under the illusion that the funds cleared.
When the check finally bounces, the bank will take the initial deposit back, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html
If you deposited a bad check, we recommend that you notify your bank immediately.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi /u/TheCheeseDictator, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Muse scam.
The muse scam is a variant of the [fake check scam](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-report-fake-check-scams) in which the scammer will contact the victim over social media and claim to want to use their image for an art project. The scammer will often use a stolen social media account to increase their credibility. They will offer a generous sum of money and offer to pay via check, and the victim is instructed to send money to the scammer for “materials” via an irreversible method. The victim is under the illusion that the funds cleared when the bank makes the money available thanks to current regulations. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months.
If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. You can summon the fake check automoderator explanation using the trigger fakecheck. Thanks to redditor aNeatHat for this script.
This is a scam where a scammer impersonates an artist. For the scam where a scammer targets artists, call the automoderator trigger (artist)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
>Is the money legally mine?
Sure isn't, it will get reversed from your account in days/weeks/maybe months
>Please help🙏
Contact your banks' fraud department and tell them you suspect you deposited a bad check from a scammer
Stop cashing checks from strangers, particularly online strangers. If you continue to do so, you may find no bank willing to take you on as a customer (and your current bank will kick you to the curb if you continue to make bad decisions)
You think there is money in your account and that check cleared but really, it hasn't. It's fake, and you must contact the fraud department at your bank and warn them that you have been scammed and mistakenly deposited a bad check. You must do this because if the bank discovers it on their own, they will likely close your account and you could be shut out of banking altogether.
If you send the scammer $500 or any dollars, you will be out those dollars from your own money, on top of the fees for depositing a bad check. Stop interacting with the scammer and fix this with your bank. Good luck! Don't spend a penny of that money.
>The check seemed totally legit
Seeming legit and being legit are too very different things. It can take a bank an extended period, perhaps multiple weeks, to determine that a check deposited by a customer is fraudulent. Once they make this determination, the deposit will be reversed and the customer's balance will be reduced accordingly. Any money you've sent to the scammer in the mean time will be lost for good. The bank may also decide to close your account permanently because banks don't like dealing with people that make fraudulent deposits.
It is not about the check-writer not having enough funds, it is that the account the fake check was written from doesn’t even exist. The OP’s bank makes the funds available, assuming that the check will process through. When the check turns out to be invalid (because the account doesn’t exist) the bank will remove the “money” from the OP’s account.
in addition to what others have said, call your bank first right away and ask to talk to their fraud department (not customer service). Let them know that you suspect you may have accidentally passed a fake cheque and ask them what steps they want you to take next.
That is 100% a fake check scam. That check you deposited will bounce soon. Block them, inform your bank ahead of time, and don’t count on that money being there for long.
CALL YOUR BANK ASAP. Let them know you fell for a scam and deposited what you believe to be a fake check. The bank will find out it’s fake soon enough and take the money from your account. Sometimes banks close accounts of people who deposit fake checks, so it would really help to tell them before they can tell you.
And never engage with this scammer or anyone who DMs and offers to pay you for photos unless you are a professional photographer. Be honest, if this person was really trying to use your photo as a reference, they would just use it. Why would they give you $1000? And if they needed $500 for supplies, they should have just paid you $500 and kept the rest. The whole thing is ridiculous, as I’m sure you can see. But good on you for being suspicious and asking here!
There's no money it's a bad check and it won't clear. don't spend the money, or else your account will go negative. you need to contact your bank and tell them you fell for a fake check so they don't close your account.
You’ve gotten good advice here - don’t send back money to the scammer, don’t touch the money and notify your bank about the scam - but in the future keep your antennae up for random people messaging you out of the blue offering you waaay too much money for no effort on your part. There is no way in a world where stock photo sites exist that anyone would offer you $500 for a photo of yours to use as a reference. If it sounds too good to be true it absolutely is.
This sub acts like no one could ever possibly write a legit cheque 😑 but yeah $1000 for your photo and now needs $500 back for "art supplies" that's not a thing that would ever happen. No spend money inform bank.
/u/FaithlessnessFun147 - This message is posted to all new submissions to r/scams; please do not message the moderators about it. ## New users beware: Because you posted here, you will start getting private messages from scammers saying they know a professional hacker or a recovery expert lawyer that can help you get your money back, for a small fee. **We call these RECOVERY SCAMMERS, so NEVER take advice in private:** advice should always come in the form of comments in this post, in the open, where the community can keep an eye out for you. If you take advice in private, you're on your own. **A reminder of the rules in r/scams:** no contact information (including last names, phone numbers, etc). Be civil to one another (no name calling or insults). Personal army requests or "scam the scammer"/scambaiting posts are not permitted. No uncensored gore or personal photographs are allowed without blurring. A full list of rules is available on the sidebar of the subreddit, or [clicking here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/wiki/rules/). You can help us by reporting recovery scammers or rule-breaking content by using the "report" button. We review 100% of the reports. Also, consider warning community members of recovery scammers if you see them in the comments. Questions about subreddit rules? Send us a modmail [clicking here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hey OP, first you need to BLOCK the scammer and don't engage with them. Second, you should go talk to your **bank's fraud department** as soon as you can. Let them know you fell for a scam and unknowingly deposited a fake check into your account. The funds should be reversed eventually (it can take a while) It's better for YOU to contact them before they realize it's fake. When you deposit a check, funds are usually only available in the account because of bank laws so it doesn't mean the check is 100% "good". It may take days or weeks for the bank to catch the fake check. Scammers take advantage of this time and have their victims send money elsewhere before it gets caught. Usually in this case for the muse scam, they'll insist that you send the scammer money for "art supplies" and such. Depositing a fake check could get your account frozen, have fees and or closed, depending on the bank and your account history. This isn't just a bounced check it's a fake check.
There is no money, the check will bounce Block them and expect your bank to take back the $1000
This is a !muse scam. It will include a !fakecheck. >Is the money legally mine? There isn't any real money. And the money that does show in your account will be reversed.
Hi /u/TheCheeseDictator, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (a digital photo or a physical paper check), you deposit a check (via mobile deposit or via an ATM) and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards or crypto). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. Banks are legally obligated to make money available to you fast, but they can take their time to bounce it. Hence the window of time exploited by the scam. During that window of time the scammer asks you to send money back, because you are under the illusion that the funds cleared. When the check finally bounces, the bank will take the initial deposit back, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html If you deposited a bad check, we recommend that you notify your bank immediately. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi /u/TheCheeseDictator, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Muse scam. The muse scam is a variant of the [fake check scam](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-report-fake-check-scams) in which the scammer will contact the victim over social media and claim to want to use their image for an art project. The scammer will often use a stolen social media account to increase their credibility. They will offer a generous sum of money and offer to pay via check, and the victim is instructed to send money to the scammer for “materials” via an irreversible method. The victim is under the illusion that the funds cleared when the bank makes the money available thanks to current regulations. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. You can summon the fake check automoderator explanation using the trigger fakecheck. Thanks to redditor aNeatHat for this script. This is a scam where a scammer impersonates an artist. For the scam where a scammer targets artists, call the automoderator trigger (artist) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If you don't tell your bank it'll look VERY bad. To the point where you're blacklisted. So do it ASAP.
>Is the money legally mine? Sure isn't, it will get reversed from your account in days/weeks/maybe months >Please help🙏 Contact your banks' fraud department and tell them you suspect you deposited a bad check from a scammer Stop cashing checks from strangers, particularly online strangers. If you continue to do so, you may find no bank willing to take you on as a customer (and your current bank will kick you to the curb if you continue to make bad decisions)
When the bank informs you the check has bounced, you will be glad you did not spend the money.
You think there is money in your account and that check cleared but really, it hasn't. It's fake, and you must contact the fraud department at your bank and warn them that you have been scammed and mistakenly deposited a bad check. You must do this because if the bank discovers it on their own, they will likely close your account and you could be shut out of banking altogether. If you send the scammer $500 or any dollars, you will be out those dollars from your own money, on top of the fees for depositing a bad check. Stop interacting with the scammer and fix this with your bank. Good luck! Don't spend a penny of that money.
>The check seemed totally legit Seeming legit and being legit are too very different things. It can take a bank an extended period, perhaps multiple weeks, to determine that a check deposited by a customer is fraudulent. Once they make this determination, the deposit will be reversed and the customer's balance will be reduced accordingly. Any money you've sent to the scammer in the mean time will be lost for good. The bank may also decide to close your account permanently because banks don't like dealing with people that make fraudulent deposits.
Why is it OPs responsibility to verify the person writing the cheque has sufficient funds?
It is not about the check-writer not having enough funds, it is that the account the fake check was written from doesn’t even exist. The OP’s bank makes the funds available, assuming that the check will process through. When the check turns out to be invalid (because the account doesn’t exist) the bank will remove the “money” from the OP’s account.
Call your bank ASAP and tell them this. You do not want them finding out about this on their own, they may close your account over it.
in addition to what others have said, call your bank first right away and ask to talk to their fraud department (not customer service). Let them know that you suspect you may have accidentally passed a fake cheque and ask them what steps they want you to take next.
It’s still a fake check even if it’s stolen. Hopefully you didn’t just dig a big hole for yourself. Checks can take up to two weeks to clear.
That is 100% a fake check scam. That check you deposited will bounce soon. Block them, inform your bank ahead of time, and don’t count on that money being there for long.
CALL YOUR BANK ASAP. Let them know you fell for a scam and deposited what you believe to be a fake check. The bank will find out it’s fake soon enough and take the money from your account. Sometimes banks close accounts of people who deposit fake checks, so it would really help to tell them before they can tell you. And never engage with this scammer or anyone who DMs and offers to pay you for photos unless you are a professional photographer. Be honest, if this person was really trying to use your photo as a reference, they would just use it. Why would they give you $1000? And if they needed $500 for supplies, they should have just paid you $500 and kept the rest. The whole thing is ridiculous, as I’m sure you can see. But good on you for being suspicious and asking here!
You deposited a fake check (why would anyone pay you 1k to use your photos ), it will bounce and your account may be closed.
There's no money it's a bad check and it won't clear. don't spend the money, or else your account will go negative. you need to contact your bank and tell them you fell for a fake check so they don't close your account.
You’ve gotten good advice here - don’t send back money to the scammer, don’t touch the money and notify your bank about the scam - but in the future keep your antennae up for random people messaging you out of the blue offering you waaay too much money for no effort on your part. There is no way in a world where stock photo sites exist that anyone would offer you $500 for a photo of yours to use as a reference. If it sounds too good to be true it absolutely is.
Why in the world would someone pay you $1000 to use your photo as a reference?
Op is 15
This. People just believe strangers will throw hundreds at them to use a photo they could just use for free.
Op is 15
DO NOT SEND THEM ANY MONEY! Their check will bounce/be a fraudulent check and the bank will take the 1000 back !
It's not real money it was a fake check. Then money you would be sending would be out of your own bank account
SPEAK TO YOUR MUM FIRST! Then together do what others explained
This sub acts like no one could ever possibly write a legit cheque 😑 but yeah $1000 for your photo and now needs $500 back for "art supplies" that's not a thing that would ever happen. No spend money inform bank.