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The Magee Police Department, MS Attorney General’s Office and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office started receiving complaints about a possible check scam. The scam was an ad placed into the Magee Courier from out of state about taking care of an elderly woman with dementia, three hours a day for $400 per week, and to send an email if interested. Numerous people responded and received a check in the mail from San Antonio, Texas. The checks were usually around $1,950 with instructions to get a money order in the amount of $900 and send to another female in South Carolina. The remaining money could be kept by the sender for services rendered. The checks were found to be counterfeit. Investigators contacted JP Morgan Chase Bank Investigators and they verified the checks were counterfeit. Investigators tracked down the credit card that was used to buy the add, which was also used in six other states to buy a similar add. The credit card that was used was a stolen card number. MS Attorney General Investigator Doug Tyrone contacted Florence, South Carolina where the money orders were supposed to being going. Investigators from Florence, South Carolina made contact with the person receiving the money orders (Gwinda Pigett Madison) and she confessed to being involved with the scam with her boyfriend overseas in Nigeria.
Chief Randy Crawford wanted to give thanks to the citizens for their fast response in reporting this crime. Chief Crawford stated that most anytime that you have to pay money in order to receive money then it is a scam.
