FTC warning on fake check scam targeting young adults

The Federal Trade Commission has posted a Consumer Alert describing a new delivery method for fake check scams. "Artists" are targeting young adults using social media, offering to pay them for permission to paint their photos.

Young adults report this scam begins with a direct message on social media from someone who says they like a target's photo and want to pay the target thousands of dollars to use it. Next, they’ll send the target a check. They’ll tell the target to deposit it, take some money out to send to the artist for supplies, and keep the rest. They may promise to reimburse any money the target sends back (but never do — it's a scam).

That first check, of course, is fake, and if deposited, it will bounce, leaving the hapless target out any money sent to the scammer and owing the bank any money withdrawn from the deposit.