Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Authorities Report “home improvement grant” Checks Are Scam

   Local residents who have received “checks” through the mail proported to be connected to home improvement grants, should be aware that they are actually part of a widespread scam.

   The checks, issued through “VEKA Corporate Disbursement Account” are written for the amount of $4,920.30. It is accompanied by a letter from “Galaxy Security, Inc., P.O. Box 1807, New York, NY,” explaining that the check is a “processing fees check” for a $38,000 home improvement grant. The letter states, “This check is to assist you in paying the necessary fees and Foreign Access Taxes fro this claim. These fees are mandatory, serve as a verification method and establishes the legitimacy of your claim.”

   Recipients are given a telephone number to call along with the names of two Claim Managers. They are instructed to “please call the number…and speak (with them) before cashing the enclosed check.”

   The letter continued, “$34,900 has been disbursed to you as a final cash settlement, this amount wilsl remain in our custody pending approval and final processing. Once the necessary fees and applicable Foreign Access Taxes are paid, you will receive a second and final check which will settle your claim. This will be sent by courier, reaching you in 3 to 5 business days. In order to release your package from the courier, please have two pieces of ID available.”

   The letter is signed “Eric Clayberg, V.P. (Foreign Account Dept.).”

   Logos from a number of well-known businesses have been copied onto the back of the letter in order to add legitimacy. Some are:  Walmart, GAP, McDonalds, Western Union, Best Buy, IBM, Office Depot, Wendy’s, Toshiba, Home Depot, Apple, Costco.com, and Starbucks.

   Officials with the true VEKA Corporation report that although the checks are very realistic looking they are, in fact, fraudulent; that no such “grants” have been issued. They indicate that the fake checks have been surfacing in various states, most recently Tennessee.

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