Check fraud

[Eligala]

Jurisdiction

California

deposit a check I didn't know was fake.i got scamed through craiglist. I contacted my bank and show them evidence of the scam. I also tried to file a police report but they said they couldn't help me cause I havnt lost any money due to the fake check and because it's still pending on my transactions. What is going to happen?

 

[Highwayman]

deposit a check I didn't know was fake.

So how do you know it's "fake" now??

i got scamed through craiglist.

No! You don't say. Amazing!

I also tried to file a police report but they said they couldn't help me cause I havnt lost any money due to the fake check and because it's still pending on my transactions.

Makes no sense if it is, in fact, a bad check. I suspect that they doubt you. Leads back to the question above.

 

[mightymoose]

You are not guilty of a crime unless you KNOWINGLY passed a bad check.
Unfortunately, you likely are responsible for any fees your bank is seeking from you.
The police are right, that until the check is actually returned there isn't much to dnce you do have it you can make a report, but my crystal ball tells me that the person you got the check from used a fake identity and will never be found.

It's called a scam for a reason. I'd bet somewhere along the line you had a sense that "this is too good to be true". This is what usually results.

 

[txls]

Don't spend the money. When it is returned by the bank as fraudulent then you can file a police report. Don't expect the money to be recovered. If it ever is, then lucky you.

 

[adjusterjack]

deposit a check I didn't know was fake.i got scamed through craiglist.

Was this one of those deals where somebody sent you a check and you wrote somebody else a check after deducting your fee for performing the service? Your outgoing check was good and got cashed? The incoming check was bad so you are out the money you sent out because you can't collect on the first check.?

Yeah, like who wouldn't have seen that coming?