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Saline Reporter
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 Weave the Web:
ones who submitted it to the bank, they are responsible for the money. Its not a streamlined process for banks to legitimize a check, Lupi said. They make the person cashing responsible. Tracking the money is difficult because the person on the other end of the Western Union transaction is often times another victim who serves as a courier. That person then passes it on again. Stopping people from falling victim is a challenge for local law enforcement. Smaller departments dont have the time or the resources to file a report, much less investigate a complaint. In Saline, the stack gets larger each week as more complaints come in, Lupi said. While it seems like common sense to verify an unsolicited check, people are often taken by the large sums of money offered by simply cashing a check to cover taxes or fees. Some victims include a Houston, Texas, law firm that was swindled out $182,500 after depositing a stimulus check for $367,000 that was found later to be counterfeit. Lupi said having a check clear a bank is no guarantee the check is good. He said some companies have all their checks tied to one account and it could take months before the crime is detected. Offers of riches from outside the United States should set off alarms, as well. Letters and mass email are sent out offering portions of foreign bank accounts that can be had simply by sharing some personal information. Besides greed, the scammers play on peoples religious beliefs to help foreign missions. Other times its a lottery from North America or Jamaica that recipients are told they have won. All they have to do is send money to a person to cover taxes or fees. One local victim sent $200 and her credit card information after having a conference call with two other people. She was asked for an additional $500 advance on her credit card and then talked with some friends about it and they told her to call the police. The foreign sources of these types of crimes take it out of the hands of local police to investigate complaints. The Internet Crime Complaint Center report stated 121,000 cases were referred to law enforcement nationwide in 2010. Other scams include home improvement grants, fee for a return of lost ATM
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The

Your Hometown Newspaper

75

VOL. 61, NO. 36

Police: If offer is too good to be true, its a scam

Tips to avoid potential fraud, identity theft
By Jim Pruitt
Special Writer

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2 for U Testing the Chevy Volt from Randy Wise Livestock auction at Saline Community Fair

The lures may differ, but the hook is just as painful for victims of various email and online scams. Scammers use a variety of methods to attract their prey, from notices of random lottery winnings to innocent-looking ads on online classified ad sites. Once hooked, victims can lose thousands of dollars either by outright theft or for being responsible for passing fraudulent checks. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a conglomeration of federal and private anti-crime organizations, more than $500 million was lost in 2009 based on 330,000 complaints. Complaints dipped slightly to 303,000 in 2010, but that was still the second highest total in the organizations 10-year history. Michigan accounted for 2.7 percent of all complaints, taking 11th place. The state was 13th for perpetrators. In Saline, the police department on average receives around two complaints every week from residents who are suspicious or already had been victimized before the bells went off in their heads. Detective Don Lupi said the adage, If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is, should be the first thought for people who receive offers of free money. If you receive a check in the mail, be extremely careful, he cautions. People have been fooled by scams. While the ruse may involve a job offer, national lottery, holding merchandise or assisting Nigerian or Liberian nationals launder money, the main thrust seldom varies, Lupi said. People receive a check, which is generally between $3,000 and $5,000, which they are told to cash at their local bank. They are to keep a small portion for themselves and then send the rest via Western Union or MoneyGram to another person. This is a red flag people need to be aware of because this is where the scam begins to turn like a knife in someones stomach. Once you push the button at Western Union, its gone, Lupi said about the money. You should never Western Union money to someone you dont know. The next step is when the unwitting victim learns the original check was fraudulent. Because they were the

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LaVasseur crowned 2011 Miss Saline

By Kevin Doby
Heritage Media

Saline High School senior Audrey LaVasseur was crowned Miss Saline this year at the Saline Community Fair.

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Just be yourself. Thats what Miss Saline 2011 Audrey LaVasseur said after she was crowned Aug. 30 at the annual event held during the Saline Community Fair. I came into the night with no expectations and was just being myself, she said. LaVasseurs expecta-

tions were evident when her name was called, and a look of complete shock and happiness came across her face. I had no idea I would win, she said. I know thats a very pageant thing to say, but I really didnt. Ten teens were competing for the crown, which brought with it scholarship money and other prizes.

Filling out the court is Kendall Buie as second runner-up and Megan Rupp as runner-up. LaVasseur and the court will be fulfilling their duties handing out ribbons the rest of the week at the fair to winning contestants. LaVasseur also will be involved in the parade on Saturday, as well as many other upcoming local events.

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Teens wanted on warrants

By Jim Pruitt
Special Writer

Police have received authorization to serve warrants on two local teenagers for their roles in an armed robbery of a marijuana dealer in July. The suspects, whose names have not been released, are a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl. The warrant for the boy includes charges of armed

robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. The girls charges include armed robbery and conspiracy. If convicted, both could receive a life sentence. The incident occurred between 10 and 11 p.m. July 26 in the 800 block of Valley Arch Drive. Initial reports stated a man was assaulted by four black men, but only the two suspects have been

identified. According to police documents, the suspects wanted some marijuana, but didnt have any money, so they conspired to rob the victim. The suspects told police the victim had been robbed before and was an easy target. The girl called the dealer and made plans to buy marijuana for $350, and would meet him at his girlfriends
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Dr. Tari Stull, Dr. Daniel Sherick, and nurses Sharon Petri and Beth LaVasseur. The panel will discuss navigating through a breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and beyond. Cost is $5 and dinner is included. Reservations required. Call 1-800231-2211 or visit stjoeshealth.org/ classes to register.

BRIEFLY...
Club to discuss gardens: Saline Stone and Thistle Garden Club meets 7:30 p.m. Sept 19 at UAW Hall, 601 Woodland, in Saline. The program is titled Lovingly-Tended Gardens of Southeast Michigan. The speaker is Frances Flory of the

Good Thymes Garden Club in Ann Arbor. Call 429-5113. Talk set at hospital: The St. Joseph Mercy Saline Auxiliary will host a discussion called Breast Cancer and Beyond 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at St. Joseph Mercy Saline Community Health Pavilion. Presenters includes Dr. Kathleen Beekman,