involving fraudulent checks identified as Commonwealth of Massachusetts/Department of Revenue. Check overpayment scams are often in response to ads or online auction postings. Sellers are contacted by an alleged buyer, who offers to pay for an item with a cashier's, personal, government or corporate check. At the last minute, the buyer will often present a reason for having to write the check for more than the purchase price, and request the seller to send or wire back the difference to a Post Office box after the check has been deposited.
In most instances, the checks are counterfeit and while the checks may initially clear the bank - the check will eventually bounce, leaving the seller liable for the entire amount.
If you receive a check from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts/Department of Revenue for the purchase of items that are selling either from an advertisement or online auction posting, please immediately contact DOR's Office of Internal Affairs at 617-626-2130.
To date, approximately 100 fraudulent DOR checks have been reported from states all across the country, including: Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Taxpayers should also watch against a malicious search engine virus.
Unfortunately, there are even more types of scams that can affect Massachusetts residents. Take a look