I was given a check for a sweapstakes I won. I took the check to my local cashing agency who I always deal with. I cashed the check. A few days later the check cashing agency notified me that the check had bounced. Now the agency wants me to pay back the money to them. I already spent the money paying bills I had. Now I don't have the money. Why am I responsible to pay for the check? I didn't write/issue the check? The check agency is going to file criminal charges against me. What can I do?

excon

Hello a:

How much money did you have to send BEFORE you got your check?????? I dunno how, in this day and age, when you DO have a computer at your disposal that you could fall for this scam....... I just don't know.

You're not guilty of a criminal act, but you are guilty of a civil one. You owe the money.

excon

J_9

There is really nothing you can do. You were scammed. This happens more than we would like to believe. This was just on one of those investigative reporting shows.

You see, the money wasn't there, you were scammed, yet you spent the money you did not have. Under situations like this, it was advised to deposit the check and wait up to two weeks to see if the check clears. If not, then you are not out anything, if it does, then you have money in the bank.

Plain and simple you fell victim of a scam.

asylumsuz

I did not have to send an money in order to receive the check. That's why I didn't think it was a scam.

ScottGem

A sweepstakes? Did you enter this sweepstakes? Like excon I find it hard to believe you fell for this scam. But you did.

Why are you responsible? Because by endorsing the check, you guaranteed it. That's what an endorsement is!

What can you do? Pay them back. Otherwise, they can and will file criminal charges against you.

slowandeasy

Hello Asylumsuz

This sound like the oldest scam around.I can 't belive you fell for this one. You said you didn't send them money? Then explain to us what you did to "win" this so called sweepstakes? Who gave you the check? Like ScottGem said by signing that check you are responsible for it. How much money did you get?

Fr_Chuck

To answer your question, yes you have to pay back every penny and fast, if not yes they can press criminal charges against you. This happens every month to alot of people.

did you have to send them some money after you cashed the check?
most times this scam with bad checks invovle you sending them something.