GILLETTE, Wyo. — A 72-year-old man who was twice a victim of fraud has made agreements with Campco Federal Credit Union to pay off about $6,000 in debt from false checks, Gillette police said this morning.
The man reported at 11:41 a.m. March 11 that he was being messaged by an unknown woman who sent him a check for about $5,000, Gillette Police Capt. Jason Marcus said March 13.
The man was instructed to cash the check and buy pre-paid gift cards with the money, according to Marcus. He did that, and, a few days later, Campco Federal Credit Union contacted him and informed him that the check was fraudulent, Marcus said. About four months ago, an individual who may have been the same alleged woman told the man to cash a $980 check and buy pre-paid gift cards, which he also did, Marcus said.
Once he found out that the checks weren’t real, he called the Gillette Police Department and made agreements with Campco Federal Credit Union to make payments until the debt’s paid off, Marcus said.
Detectives were notified, and there are no suspects, he said.
National Consumers League’s Fraud.org has tips for how to avoid fraud here. Federal Trade Commission also has tips.
