Fraud Fighters: John

The morning started like any other for John, owner of John's Hardware. As he reviewed the daily deposits, a check for an unusually high amount stood out. It was from a new contractor, "Metro Builders," paying for a large lumber order they hadn't placed yet. A wave of excitement washed over John – a big sale was always welcome.

But John, a seasoned businessman, noticed a few oddities. The check was from an out-of-state bank, and the company logo looked slightly off compared to Metro Builders' website. Intrigued, John decided to call the contractor directly to confirm the order.

The phone number listed on the check didn't connect. John then searched online and found Metro Builders' legitimate contact information. Reaching them, John learned they hadn't placed any orders with John's Hardware and had no idea about the check. John's gut lurched.

This was a check fraud attempt.

He immediately contacted his bank and reported the incident. The bank confirmed it was likely a fraudulent check scam, where scammers send fake checks hoping the recipient deposits them before realizing they're worthless.

While frustrated by the wasted time, John felt a surge of satisfaction for catching the scam. He contacted the police to report the fraudulent check and alerted other local businesses in his network to be wary of similar attempts. John's quick thinking and awareness not only saved his business from financial loss but potentially protected other businesses from falling victim to the same scam.

John F.
Business Owner, Fraud Fighter

Learn about more ways ordinary people have fought fraud here.