Woman Charged In Counterfeit Check Scam

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Woman Charged In Counterfeit Check Scam
Detectives: 44-Year-Old Had 10 Fake Checks, Forged Bills

POSTED: Wednesday, June 9, 2010
UPDATED: 11:30 am EDT June 9, 2010

Nassau County Sheriff's Office Photo
Detectives say they seized computer equipment, mailing supplies and more than $2.5 million in counterfeit checks and money orders in a Nassau County woman's home.
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. -- A Callahan woman was arrested Friday in connection with participating in an international counterfeit check scam, according to the Nassau County Sheriff's Office.

Karen Miller, 44, was charged with possession of more than 10 counterfeit checks, possession of instruments used for forging bills and violation of the Florida Communications Fraud Act.

Detectives said the scam works as follows: A victim is contacted via e-mail or by other means and is asked to cash a check at his or her bank. The victim is offered a work-from-home job that consists of processing payments.

The victim receives a check ranging in price from several hundred to several thousand dollars. The person is then told to go to the bank and cash the check.

The victim keeps 10 percent of the proceeds as a commission and uses a small portion for money wire-transfer fees. The rest of the money is wired to different locations in the U.S. and around the world.

The victim later finds out that the check is counterfeit, and the bank removes the total amount of the counterfeit check from the victim's account.

Authorities said they believe a large portion of the proceeds from this type of scam ends up in foreign countries, like Nigeria.

Detectives said they seized computer equipment, mailing supplies and more than $2.5 million in counterfeit checks and money orders in Miller's home last week. She is being held in the Nassau County Detention Center with bond set at $75,510.

Detectives said their investigation is ongoing. They said there could be more arrests in this case.
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