MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police are warning the public about an Internet scam.

A message is posted on Craigslist seeking nanny services on the Big Island.

A victim who answered and communicated with the poster by email was sent a check by mail and asked to send back some of the money via Western Union to an address in Russia.

The victim later discovered that the check was counterfeit.

This is variation of a common scam, in which someone receives a “prize” or a check and is asked to wire a lesser amount back. Police caution the public to always verify that a transaction is legitimate before sending money to someone they don’t know.