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Crime & Safety

Auto Trader Check Scam Stopped by Bank

A couple gets a fraudulent check for more than $6,000 from a man who claimed to be deaf. Luckily, the scam was spotted before they gave up their car.

A couple trying to sell their vehicle was scammed with a fraudulent check by someone claiming to be deaf.

The couple had attempted to deposit a check at a Wells Fargo in unincorporated Norcross on Nov. 17 in the amount of $6,100.75.

According to the Gwinnett County police report, the 43-year-old woman and her husband of Doraville placed an ad in AutoTrader to sell a 1977 GMC Sierra. They received a message from a "Paul Morgan" who said his client "John Williams," was interested in purchasing the vehicle.

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The woman said that Morgan's client preferred to communicate via emails as opposed to the phone because Williams is deaf.

The couple agreed to sell the vehicle for $4,000. However, they received a check for $6,100.75. Morgan told the couple that the extra funds were for transporting the vehicle to Minnesota, and they were to wire the leftover money to the client's brother via Western Union.

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Since they were suspicious about the check, the couple called Western Union to check its validity. Western Union gave the green light, so the wife went to a Wells Fargo in unincorporated Norcross the next day.

The bank manager told police that the check was not the style that the bank had on file. The account was also flagged for fraudulent activity when the teller entered the check into the bank's system.

The couple is still in possession of the vehicle, and the counterfeit check was placed into evidence. The woman also told police she has saved all of the emails with Morgan.

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