How Do I Report a Fraudulent American Express Travelers Check?
Receiving a fraudulent traveler's check can cost victims lots of money. Scams using fake traveler's checks have grown quickly, and scammers have developed their methods to produce checks that look more authentic. If the recipient of a traveler's check suspects fraud, she can verify and report the fraudulent check to authorities. But identifying a fake traveler's check can take time if the recipient, or the bank that cashes the check, has no immediate suspicion. Banks usually demand a refund for cashed fraudulent traveler's checks, even from unknowing victims. American Express calls its traveler's checks Travelers Cheques.
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Things You'll Need
- American Express Travelers Cheque
- Local Federal Trade Commission contact information
Instructions
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Determine whether you have received a fraudulent check. Determining the authenticity of a travelers check by visual inspection can be misleading. If you suspect someone has given you a fraudulent American Express traveler's check, contact American Express at 800-525-7641 to verify the authenticity of the check immediately and namelessly.
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Contact local authorities. Document who gave you the traveler's check, including his physical appearance if he handed you the check. If you received the check by mail, keep the mailing materials for the authorities.
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Report the case to the National Consumers League if you received a fraudulent traveler's check from an online source or a telemarketer. Telemarketing also includes transactions originating by mail or phone (see Resources section).
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Contact your state or local consumer protection office if you received a fraudulent traveler's check from a source other than an Internet or telemarketing scammer. Report fraudulent activities online via the Federal Trade Commission's Complaint Assistant if unable to access a local Consumer Protection Office. Reporting a complaint to the FTC helps determine victims of ongoing traveler's check scams, and it helps detect patterns in victims of a new scam (see Resources section).
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Tips & Warnings
Educate yourself on the popular scams involving traveler's checks to prevent receiving a fraudulent check (see Resources section).
Reporting a fraudulent American Express Travelers Check does not guarantee receiving money lost in check fraud scams.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit signing check image by jovica antoski from Fotolia.com
