Check fraud scam alert issued by Kentucky Treasurer

FRANKFORT, KY (WAVE) - Treasurer Allison Ball's office identified a check fraud late Thursday after someone acted as a Kentucky political official.

Ball's offices is alerting people there is a scam trying to steal the identity of Kentuckians using bad checks that look like they have a certain level of official appearance.

The checks appear like they are coming from the Secretary of State Alison Lundergran Grimes. However, the checks are rejected when the recipient tries to deposit/cash the check. When the recipient can't access their money they email the contact on the "Instruction Letter" they received with the check. That contact ultimately puts them in communication with the scammer who requests name and bank information for their own personal use.

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"This is a very sophisticated scam. These fake checks have continued to come in. My office doesn't tolerate people writing fake checks to prey on the good nature of Kentuckians," Ball said in a press release. "I hope the Attorney General's Office works hard to swiftly and quickly prosecute those responsible."

When Ball's office first realized they were dealing with a scam they notified the Attorney General's office and the Secretary of State's office because the scammer was signing the checks "Mrs. Alison Lundergran Grimes" and calls Grimes the "Finance Manager."

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