I don’t really know how many Urban Legends there are associated with Wal-Mart,* but we can add one more to the list: The Wal-Mart Check Copying Scam. If you haven’t already gotten the email yet, it will probably pop into your inbox any day now.

The official Louisiana Department of Public Safety And Corrections stationary is supposed lend the hoax credibility, but the a quick check with the state police confirms that no such warning was ever issued.

Here’s how the scam is supposed to work.

DO NOT write checks at any Wal-Mart. There is a multi-city fraud and theft ring currently operating in Wal-Mart involving numerous employees. When you pay by check the clerk takes a picture of your check using the camera on their cell phone. This information is then downloaded, fraudulent checks made from your account, and then “let the fun begin” for the thieves. One individual that this was done to had two checks totaling over $4000.oo posted against their checking account.

Two flags pop up immediately. First, the ubiquitous all-caps horror warning. Every urban legend must by law include at least two words in all caps to demonstrate the urgency of the warning. Second, the missing separating comma and the use of the trailing zeros in the dollar amount to make it look even bigger than it is, as if the .00 cents makes the $4,000 more astounding.

Some of you are thinking “well there is no way this will affect me because I don’t keep that kind of money in my account.” WRONG!!!! As stated, this involves numerous employees. The picture is taken and after the data is downloaded the checks are printed. Later, this fake check is given to same or another cashier. The cashier DOES NOT run the check through the check fax inquiry to verify the funds.

Uh, oh, there are those ALL CAP warnings again. Are you feeling terrified yet?

This activity has become so widespread and so numerous have been the occurrences that not only is local law enforcement authorities involved in the case, i.e. City, Sheriff, and LSP, but the FBI and the Secret Service is now investigation as well.

So, you have been warned. Protect yourself and your money. It’s 2007 and the criminals only seem to get smarter.

The crooks may be getting smarter, but the spammers are just as dumb as ever.

*OK, just for fun I ran Wal-Mart through the Snopes search engine and came up with 52 hits (including the check scam hoax) and 28 hits for Walmart, with some crossover.

Jeff Hess: Have Coffee Will Write.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, August 5th, 2007 at 1724 by Jeff Hess and is filed under Banking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.