Police: Port Chester Man Victim Of Nigerian Check Scam

A Port Chester man who had an online relationship with woman in Nigeria was the apparent victim of a check fraud scam, according to Port Chester police.

The 29-year-old village resident told police on Tuesday he had been corresponding online with a woman for a year when she asked him for help cashing a check she said was too large for her to cash at her bank in Nigeria. Police said the man agreed to help and then received a check for $2,850 in the mail from the woman. He deposited the check in his bank account and then sent the woman a check for $2,500.

After sending his check, police said the victim’s bank notified him that the check he received from Nigeria was no good — but by this the check he sent to Nigeria had been cashed.

Port Chester police warn residents to beware of such online scams in which someone seeks help cashing a check or similar scams in which a payment is sought to collect a prize.