Blacksburg Police warn of check scam targeting Virginia Tech off-campus housing

From January 30, 2009 to February 1, 2009, Blacksburg Police received complaints from individuals who had received fraudulent checks by mail. 

All three complainants had been contacted by e-mail after being on the VT Off-Campus Housing web site from either a “Smith Martins” or a “Mack Scott”.  The e-mails were soliciting these individuals to take receipt of a check, deposit it into their bank accounts, sending back a set amount by Western Union and keeping the difference.  The checks were in the amount of $2,850.00 with $1,750.00 to be returned.  All three complainants acted on these e-mails and received the checks in which they deposited into their respective banks, only to find the checks were fraudulent.  Fortunately, none of the complainants sent the requested $1,750.00 via electronic fund transfer.

All three checks were from Kroll International, LLC, written on Huntington National Bank checks.

Blacksburg Police would like to warn the public about this scam.  We are asking that you do not act upon these types of solicitation e-mails.  If you already have, immediately notify the police in your community.

VT Off-Campus Housing has put a notice on their web site warning users.