Thread: Fruadulant check ring are probably illegal aliens

Check ring bilks deli out of $16,000

At least 38 Hispanic men cash fake payroll checks
By SCOTT DAUGHERTY, Staff Writer

An organized crew of at least 38 Hispanic men conned an Odenton convenience store out of more than $16,000 last week, county police said.
Using counterfeit paychecks from a construction company up the road, the men streamed into Rieve's Deli at 8374 Piney Orchard Parkway and walked out with more than $400 each.

County police are asking anyone who cashes checks to check identification, look closely at security features and watermarks on the checks and immediately report anything suspicious.

"We would definitely like to urge businesses to pay as much attention as possible," said Cpl. Mark Shawkey, a police spokesman, noting the sheer size of this operation. "Generally a scam like this is tried by groups less than five."

Sunny Patel, owner of Rieve's, eventually realized the checks were fake when he noticed one of the serial numbers was out of place, police said. The men who were still in the store at that time ran out, hopped into a gold Dodge Caravan and drove away.

Mr. Patel declined to comment for this story. He told police, however, that he didn't ask any of the thieves for identification before cashing their checks.

All 38 checks were fraudulently written on the account of Pioneer Contracting Co., 8288 Telegraph Road, Suite C.

"We really don't know what happened," said Sujana Umagiliya, a supervisor at the company, which specializes in road and bridge work. "We don't know how many checks are out there."

He said someone must have gotten a signed check and made several digitally altered copies, all of which lacked watermarks and other security features.

Each check was written to a different person, had a different serial number and was for a slightly different amount - from $417.35 to $477.14, police said.

"They were not our employees," Mr. Umagiliya said after reviewing the names on the checks.

When Mr. Patel noticed the checks were counterfeits, he called Pioneer Contracting - which in turn sent out Mr. Umagiliya to see if he recognized the crooks.

None of them were still at the store, but Mr. Umagiliya did see a Hispanic man running down the road and hopping into a blue sedan.

"I knew there was something wrong there," he said.

He said he turned around and managed to stop the car in a parking lot of a nearby bank. There he got the driver to hand over his license, but the man then drove off without it.

Police said the license was issued in Mexico.

Detectives are trying to find the owner of the van and license. They're also investigating what happened at Rieve's and whether the group has hit any other businesses in the state.

So far, police haven't made any links, but other departments have reported similar check fraud rings. Police in Lexington County, S.C., are investigating a crew of seven Hispanic men who used counterfeit payroll checks in March to take three grocery and convenience stores for about $34,000.

"It appears that the counterfeit check ring operates across the nation, targeting businesses that regularly cash payroll checks presented by Hispanic workers," the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said in a press release.

Cpl. Shawkey doesn't expect the crew to show up in this county again, since they have to know the heat is on them.

"It's highly unlikely," he said. "They will move on to another location."

Mr. Umagiliya doesn't know what will happen next, but he doesn't think his company will be on the hook for the money. He noted that the fake checks didn't have the watermark or other security features on its real checks.

To be safe, however, the company has closed that account and bought new checks.

"We already put in more security," he said.

Anyone with information about the crew is asked to call 410-280-8610.

Yep, "good people with strong family family values, just here to do jobs, Americans won't do."

Oldglory,

What's the link, the url on this story?

curious pat, I found the article in the MCDC forum. It happened in South Carolina. A direct link was not provided. I will see if I can get it for you.

thanks, Oldglory I want to send this on to my media. This one they might pick up to warn businesses with....we'll see if they say 'illegal'