About Eric Frank Expertise Ex police detective with 15 years recent experience in the criminal law. Can assist with questions as to how it affects victims and persons suspected of crime. Can also assist as to whether a criminal prosecution is the best or most effective method to pursue. Experienced in Criminal court procedure.
Please note: 99% of the questions I am asked result in the same answer: GET A LAWYER. Trust me on this, if I was in danger of losing my liberty, I would not be looking for advice on the internet, I would GET A LAWYER!
Expert: Eric Frank Date: 1/1/2005 Subject: forged check for payment
Question Hello, my name is Adam Butler. I live in the state of Georgia, USA.
I had an agreement to ship a piece of musical equipment to a person that lives in Wales.
This person sent me a cashier's check made on a US bank. I deposited the check into my account, withdrew funds and wired the money to a private shipper as I was instructed by my Welsh buyer to do.
After the funds were wired to the shipping company (I don't know what location they are in) via Western Union wire... my bank in Georgia returned the buyer's check to me as a "refer to maker". This meant that this cashier's check was fraudulent. The funds that the person in Wales took from me was $1300 US Dollars.
In Georgia this is a felony charge. I need to know who I contact in Wales to pursue a charge and to recover my money from this person. I only have an email address and a mailing address for this Welsh person. I have emailed them and they state they did NOT put a stop payment on the check. It was a cashier's check that is drawn on a bank in Tennessee, USA that does not even exist. Therefore, leading to me to believe the check is fraudulent.
Please advise what you think I could put into action to press charges against this person in Wales.
Answer From the information you supply my suggestion is to contact your local FBI office as this is an 'Interstate commerce' fraud. Give them as much info as you can. Western Union can tell you where the money went to and who picked it up (they have to produce ID). The FBI have the means to request that enquiries be made in Wales. There are various formalities for overseas agencies to go through which I will not bore you with. Any direct approach by you to the police in the UK will almost certainly result in a refusal to accept jurisdiction as it appears that the majority of the necessary enquiries to establish responsibility will have to be made in the USA. Hope this helps and good luck.
