whatdo i do if i cashed the check???

it came from a legit medical place, i looked them up on internet, i called the bank check was from and they assured me it was good, my bank cashed it for me, BUT, i never agreed to anything, in fact the check stub says TRUST on it, what is this?

Welcome to Scamwarners.
We'll need more information to answer your question. What was the check supposed to be for? Can you post the email referring to it, less your personal details.
If the check is from a scammer, the bank's assurance and the fact that it seems to have cleared don't mean much.

i saw the mystery shopper on craigslist, i inquired and gave them my info but never spoke to anyone after i sent info i didnt hear back, was expectinig phone call. instead got email AFTER i got check, the stub says TRUST on it, i assumed it was a check for over payment of some sort on a huge medical bill i had a yr or so ago. it was from a medical supply company in ohio, orbit medical, adress matched up, seemed legit. i cashed check and payed some overdue bills. then i get email telling me i got a check from mystery shopper, which was no where indicated on check or in envelope. below is all the info i have. thanks sooo very much. i am disabled and i am hoping there is some way to get help paying this back to my bank, i have no way to come up with that kind of money, i should have known better but under the circumstances i truly believed it was a back pay thing. i including all the email mumbo jumbo stuff at the bottom of this hope u can help.

Re: Craigslist job posting

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FROM:

TO:
Sandy Powell
Message flagged Thursday, September 22, 2011 4:30 PMMessage body



From: Sandy Powell <[email protected]>
To:
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: Craigslist job posting

Hello,

First Name...
Last Name...
Street Address ........
City, State, Zip Code ...........
Cell Phone Number ........
Home Phone Number ............
Age(Above 17) .........48
Current Occupation .......unemplyeed..........
Alternate Email Address ...N/A..........




From: Sandy Powell <[email protected]>
To:
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: Craigslist job posting

Hello,

Thanks for getting back to us,We only have Mystery Shopper
representative job avail this time around, go through the message
below and email us back with the information needed to start your job
asap.

Introduction
-----------------------
Mystery Shopper is a venture that checks reputable companies
performance and services,We are registered and established in America
for a long while now,Feed-plus Secret Shopper? is accepting
applications from qualified individuals to become mystery shoppers.
It's fun and rewarding, and you choose when and where you want to
shop.There is no charge to become a shopper and you do not need
previous experience. After you sign up,you will have access to
training materials via e-mail, fax or postal mail.

One amongst many others pay for Mystery Shoppers to shop in their
establishments and report their experiences. On top of being paid for
shopping you are also allowed to keep purchases for free.

Mystery Shopper? never charge fees to the shopper,training,tips for
improvement,and shopping opportunities are provided free to registered
shoppers.

Assignments Example
-------------------------------
Secret Shopper has available for immediate assignment an inspection of
the customer service of any Walmart,Western Union outlet,, and some
other local company in your area. This fee will be paid upfront.During
this shopping you will visit the location and make several
observations as regards the customer service.

*You will be required to interact with the shop clerk.
*You may conduct the shop alone or as a couple.
*We will pay you $400.00 for your first Assignment

Interested Shopper need to kindly fill Out the application form below
and we will get back to you shortly with more information,and be
advise that you need to be checking your mail at least once or twice
everyday.If you fail to respond to any mail for more than 24 hrs you
will miss your assignment.


First Name....
Last Name....
Street Address ...............
City, State, Zip Code ...........
Cell Phone Number ........
Home Phone Number ............
Age(Above 17) .........
Current Occupation .................
Alternate Email Address ...N/A..........

Kind Regards..

Hiring Manager

From Thu Sep 22 14:32:50 2011
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Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:32:50 -0700 (PDT)
From:
Reply-To:
Subject: Re: Craigslist job posting
To: Sandy Powell <[email protected]>
priscila
Registered Member

Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:25 am
Top

The fact that they say

This fee will be paid upfront

Makes me think that this is dodgy I know of no company that would do such a thing.

I think you should get onto your bank and tell them of your concerns regarding this, you say that you have already cashed the cheque, I am afraid that they will hold you as responsible.

Definately talk to your bank if you leave it, it might get worse. I know this is probably what you do not want to hear for that I'm sorry.

i have no problem talking to bank i just have no idea how to explain to them how this happened, they even saw the check stub that said TRUST and called the bank check was from and confirmed. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. i have no clue how i will pay this back unless they will let me pay monthly payments......i hope this person gets caught!

I hate to say it but your in some trouble. You have committed a crime. Your best bet is to go to the bank and talk to them as Gateway suggested. Print out all the emails and explain the situation. Hopefully your bank will be reasonable and let you pay back the money over time.

ok, i will do that, how do i find out exactly who this person is and have them prosecuted? there has to be a way. this is so confusing, the check came from a medical supply company that we actually used at one time, i just dont know how this happened.

also, is there any agency i can report this to that can help find this person....i am disabled, fixed income, i know i will have to pay it back but isnt what they did a crime??

Yes it is a crime, and alas the odds of catching this person is practically nil, he or she was probably using a false email address and could be in any country in the world.

Explain to the bank, most banks have probably come across this before, I am sure that they will be understanding

Good Luck

Priscilla, you have a PM

You have not committed a crime. In order to committ a crime you have to have knowledge of what you are doing. You made a mistake and were scammed.

The person who sent you the check was indeed a fraudster - attempting to move proceeds of healthcare fraud most likely. And while I agree you should explain the situation to your bank so they can file a SAR - I don't agree that it impossible to catch such fraudsters. Contact your local FBI or IRS office and provide them with all the information you have.

It is illegal to cash a fake check in most states in the US and you can run the risk of being arrested and prosecuted for doing so.

By all means if it makes you feel better report the scammers to law enforcement. The sad truth there is very little they can and will do. None of the details the scammer gives you are real. That is the first obsticule to overcome.The FBI cannot nor do they have the resources to go to West Africa and arrest the scammer. The FBI and other law enforcement will only use their resources to go after criminals they can actualy catch and prosecute. A West African scammer has many layers of protection including in most cases a home government unwilling or unable to cooperate in a prosecution for a crime committed to victim in the US.

That's why this and other anti-scam sites are so important. Education is the best defense against Internet scammers.

Just to make it clear, even though I believe this particular situation has been resolved:

Check mules who have unknowingly passed fake checks in the US can be, and have been arrested. "I didn't know better" is not even close to a guaranteed out (in fact, many knowing accomplices make the same claim). Over a year ago, the FBI announced that they would increase their efforts to prosecute mules. One of the reasons for doing this is to serve as a warning for others.

http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/05/fbi-promises-action-against-money-mules/

It is true that prosecution is unlikely in the case of a victim who falls for the scam and cashes a single check--but it is not impossible, and it has happened.

And proving that you didn't know better is not all that easy. Many victims often are suspicious on some level, and may take precautions (for example, opening a new bank account). Any action that shows you questioned the legitimacy of the job or the check can be used as evidence that you knew enough to be complicit in the crime. Any choice you made (for example, lying to the Western Union rep) can also be used as evidence that you were complicit.

That's why we strongly encourage going to the bank immediately. Doing so immediately goes a long way toward showing that you are not a knowing accomplice.

As far as reporting and prosecuting go...we are not telling you not to report crimes. We just want you to understand what will come of your report. Many times people think this a simple, easy to solve, local crime--like finding out who vandalized your garage. The police aren't going to be able to sort through a few clues, pick up the teenager from down the road, and make his parents pay you for the broken window. If you lost money, chances are you will never see it again--and odds are, anyone who says they can get it back is probably a thief too!

What we want people to understand is that these are complicated, international crimes. The person who sent you the check probably isn't the scammer. He/she may be another innocent party. The scammer is most likely not even in the same country. Even investigating this crime requires the cooperation of many agencies from multiple governments, and investigations are very expensive (in addition to having major political ramifications). Only the most costly cases or those deemed important for specific reasons (e.g. national security) will be pursued. For example, if you lost $1000, while it may be a lot for you, it is not a lot in the big picture, and certainly won't trigger a major investigation.

But, reporting could still help, because if the authorities see a connection that suggests your crime was connected to hundreds of other crimes, ultimately it could lead to evidence that, combined with many other reports, could help to unravel a major organization. And, it is also important that the authorities understand how widespread these crimes are, if we want them to allocate appropriate resources to fighting them. What we don't want you to do is report the crime, and then sit by the phone waiting for the report of an arrest or news that you will get your money back, because the odds are overwhelmingly against it.

@ ScamWarn1
I would just like to point out one of the first rules of law...

Ignorantia legis neminem excusat "Ignorance of the law excuses no one"