Thread: C.B.P. Seizes $650,000 in Fake Bank Checks

C.B.P. News Release

Philadelphia CBP Seizes $650,000 in Fake Bank Checks

(Friday, August 29, 2008)

Philadelphia – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 53 fraudulent bank checks August 16, totaling $655,540 in value from a cargo parcel from Nigeria that was destined for Kansas.

The parcel arrived aboard a commercial passenger flight to Cargo City located near Philadelphia International Airport and was selected for an intensive examination. The bill of lading described the contents as documents; however during the examination CBP Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team officers located an envelope stuffed with checks drawn against several banks. Phone calls to the financial institutions confirmed that the checks were indeed fraudulent. CBP officers seized the fraudulent checks in violation of 18USC545.

Passenger and cargo manifests arriving from foreign airports aboard commercial airplanes are analyzed at CBP’s National Targeting Center in Reston, Va., and by local enforcement teams at individual ports of entry. Officers then target passengers and parcels that require more intensive scrutiny. Using tactical targeting data, CBP A-TCET officers in the Port of Philadelphia have seized fraudulent bank checks, traveler’s checks and money orders valued at about $2,267,567 during fiscal year 2008. The fiscal year starts October 1.

During fiscal year 2007, the A-TCET officers seized fraudulent monetary instruments valued at $3,817,007.

“This brazen attempt to smuggle fraudulent monetary instruments into the United States is one of the largest we’ve seen in quite some time, but it too failed,â€

The Nigerians are notorious for any sort of fraud known to human kind. I have gotten many solicitations for sending someone in Nigeria, who has inherited a large fortune and will split it with me IF I send them a few thousand dollars up front.
There have been lots of tv programs that have covered this:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8171053/

And just Google Nigerian fraud, amazing what comes up.