Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about the dangers of digital check manipulation schemes, commonly known as check cooking. In a recent statement, Attorney General Moody highlighted the severity of the issue, stating, “Fraudsters are now digitally altering stolen checks to fill their own bank accounts while draining those of the victims.”
The warning comes in the wake of an investigation in which the Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit, led by Attorney General Moody, assisted law enforcement in apprehending a Tampa man involved in manipulating checks. The fraudster in question managed to steal over $50,000 from victims before being caught and now faces 30 years in prison.
The process of check cooking begins when fraudsters gain access to legitimate checks, often stolen from mailboxes. By altering crucial information such as the payee’s name and payment amount, fraudsters create counterfeit checks that closely resemble legitimate ones. These counterfeit checks are then used to withdraw funds from unsuspecting individuals' accounts.
In a bid to help Floridians avoid falling victim to such schemes, Attorney General Moody offers practical tips, including securing mailboxes, monitoring accounts for suspicious transactions, being wary of unexpected delays in receiving mailed checks, and considering the use of e-checks for online payments.
The Consumer Protection Division of the Florida Attorney General's Office issues Consumer Alerts to inform residents about emerging scams and deceptive practices. Any individual who encounters a scam is encouraged to report the incident to the Florida Attorney General's Office.