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will charge you a fee for the returned check.

Next the checks that you wrote based this deposited item will begin returning for insufficient funds. And there will be more bank fees.

You will try to collect the funds and the fees from us, but we aren't responsible; we didn't write the check. It wasn't even a check that we were careless enough to allow to be stolen. You'd be amazed what you can do with blank stock and a printer these days.

So who pays for this? Not us; we are as much a victim as you. Not our bank; since we didn't issue the check, they are no more responsible than we are. Not your bank; they did their part by verifying your identity. You were indeed the payee on the check. Not the crooks who wrote it; they're crooks! Even if the authorities can find these guys, they surely aren't going to make good to you.

You're the only one left. So if you get a check claiming to be part of the proceeds that you won in a sweepstake or lottery and especially if you don't remember entering and if you're to cash the check and send part of the funds to someone else don't do it. You'll be left holding the bag, and I guarantee that bag isn't Prada.

By the way, I learned while researching mail fraud related to this that it's illegal to enter foreign lotteries. So I definitely wouldn't want to cash any check that claimed it came from my entering one.

Learn more about this author, Rene Kelly.
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