Mr. Al Snyder, AwardChecks.com, Blossom Homes Corporation, and the Fake Check Scam.
We’ve seen a surprising number of comments lately regarding Mr. Al Snyder, the Blossom Homes Corporation, Award Checks, and fake checks. We suspect that someone has recently mass-mailed hundreds of these fake checks lately. Unfortunately, there is only one outcome: victims losing thousands of dollars. We’ve looked at fake checks before, so this post will be a quick refresher course. If you want to learn more about how this scam operates, read this post on fake check scams and scambaiting.
Don’t Cash Checks from Awardchecks.com!
Here are some of the recent comments posted around I’ve Tried That.
I received a Washington Mutual Bank check for $4,980.00 on MaY 30, 2008. It was from “Al Snyder”, a “grant broker” working for “Award Checks.” The check looks legitimate, does not have to be repaid, and required only a paltry 10% commission to Mr. Snyder to deposit or cash. Thanks to “I’ve Tried That” and Joyce, Johnny, Terry and BP, I kept the $498.00 that would have gone to “Al Snyder” in my pocket where it belongs. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
[Note by Joe: This commenter wouldn't have just lost $498. His bank would have held him liable for the face value of the false check he cashed—$4,980! See Steve's complete explanation below.]
I also got a check from this Al Snyder for $4980. Sounded too good to be true to me as well, and it didn’t take very long to figure out that is total BS. Mine was from Blossom Homes Corporation as well. Ill be reporting this to the authorities.
May 31,2008 also received check for $4970.00 from AWARDSCHECKS.COM aka Al Snyder. Yeah damn scammers always F’N UP real honest peoples day. But have too say very tempted to cash and havem’ make me repay a scammers fake check. Someone needs to find these people and makem’ pay every cent they scammed pluse more. A–HOLES.
I recieved a check from a Mr. Al Snyder, grant broker with Blossom Homes Corporation on May 31, 2008 for 4980.00. I googled Blossom Homes Corporation and thanks in part to I’ve Tried That,and a friend who works in a bank I found out about this dishonest scam. I will report this to the proper authorities,as all these people need to pay for thier lack of integrityand their dishoesty.
Order of Operations
All fake check scams operate in the same manner. The victim, you, probably received a large check in the mail. You have no idea where this check came from but it’s free money, right? What could be better? Well, accompanying that check is a list of instructions. You have probably been directed to go to the bank and deposit the check. Then you are to take about 90% of the money you deposited and send a moneygram via Western Union to whoever sent you the check. Lucky for you, the letter says you get to keep 10% of the check for yourself.
Now, here’s where it gets tricky. The check, of course, is fraudulent. The check will bounce (maybe as much as a year later) and your account will most likely be thousands of dollars in the red. Unfortunately for you, the bank account the check was sent from doesn’t exist and now you’re solely responsible for the debt. Not the bank, not the scammer, but YOU. What was once a promising opportunity has now turned into a hellish nightmare. You are responsible for paying back the bank and the scammer now has thousands of your hard-earned dollars.
What Can You Do?
First things first, DO NOT cash that check. Listen to me. The check is fraudulent. Don’t let yourself become another victim. The thousands of dollars is tempting, but they do not exist. You will lose that money, be deeply in debt, and could even do jail time. The check may have successfully deposited into your bank account, but that’s only because banks have to make any deposited funds readily available to you. When the bank goes to withdrawal the money from the bank account listed on the check, it won’t be there and the check will bounce. Report the fraudulent check to the proper authorities immediately.
You can also spread the word about this article. Link to it wherever you think it will be helpful. Send it out in emails or post it on forums. We need to educate as many people as we can about this scam.
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Just to update this, Mr. Snyder now is sending out checks from H&W Enterprises, they are still for 4,980 and still require a 10% fee to cash and are still “FAKE”
On June 2, 2008 I recieved a check from Al Snyder for the amount of $4980.00. I went online and applied for government grants, so I thought my wish had been granted. I called the bank the check came from (WAMU) and they verified that the account was active and also open. I proceeded to get the check investigated by my local sherriff office and the deputy whom investigated said that it looked ligit. So I proceeded to deposit the check into my checking account. After one week the check came back. I am a disabled mother of two, I don’t have the money to pay back.
Jackie, that’s horrible! Even after doing due diligence you got robbed. Go to your bank and explain the fraud, and then file a report with the Postmaster General (for the mail fraud) and with the FBI Internet Crimes division.
They got me to . They should be hung by there you know what…..
Now I am in the hole. I would love to meet Mr Al Snyder. Now I have to get a loan to pay it back to the bank.
I too have been taken by these frauds. I deposited the fake check but did not draw on it. However, I’m charge with the amonut of the bounced check. I felt the check was bad from the start, but wasn’t sure. I wanted to see if the check would clear and it didn’t. They are scum of the earth. We have to really careful. How can these kinds of people operate? I would like to say to the scammers that we are not dumb.
I received a check from “Mr. Snyder” for 4,980.00 also. I looked up award checks on the internet and there are pictures of
him(supposedly) and others from the same “Company”. I took the
check to the bank to deposit with cash back of his 10%. I ask the teller to first call and verify that the check was good.
She was told that it was counterfeit. I took it to the proper
authorities. LOOK OUT, “Mr. Al Snyder”, whoever you are! You will be caught sooner or later and I can’t wait until you are.
People like him should be sentenced to life without parole.
This is the biggest fucken scam in the world and the guy that did this well lets just say if i ever see him hes gonna be one sorry Son of a Bitch because if i dont kill him then he’ll never leave the hospital. Also when and if i do find him or her in this case I gonna first shove this 4,920 check up his ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I JUST received a check in the amount of #4,920.00 from a company G & R Mining Company (which doesn’t exsist as far as I can tell) did some searching on the internet (god I love this place) and cannot find G & R, and did a search for Al Snyder, and found this place…I contacted WaMu, they told me to contact MY local authorities…So just wanted to verify that it IS a SCAM, DO NOT CASH THE CHECK!!!! But to also let you know that they are now coming from G & R Mining Company…
I got one of these checks from G $ R Mining also. Glad I did some research and found out these were fake.It’s sad how they pry on people who are down and out becuase alot of people are just desperate enough to run to thier banks and cash them without even thinking.
I got one of those checks from G&R Mining. Did some checking and
found the website ivetriedthat.com and saw all the complaints
about fraudulent checks. It did look too good to be true.
I hope they catch these guys.
Me too. Got the $4920 check on 7/17. G&R Mining Company. BUT NOW Al Snyder wants 10% of two checks for $4920 each sent to him via a website, for a one-time score of $984!!! I was tipped off by three things: misspelled my name, misspelled two words in the text about “why” the checks were being sent/held for me, AND MOST of all: the five-day pay rule or face collection actions. That is two-fold: [1] no legit check could clear and be paid in 5 days, and [2] threats to go to collection are illegal (yes, I’m an attorney). LET’S GET THIS GUY!.
My check was for $4,930.00. The issuing company is Goldstein Holdings Company, Palos Verdes Estates, CA and is drawn from Washington Mutual Bank (WaMu). Again, Al Snyder, Award Checks. My check was dated 7/17/08.
I just received the same check for $4930.00 drawn from Washington Mutual and issued by Goldstein Holdings Company. I assumed it was a scam immediately - very sneaky Al Snyder!
Me too. I hope they get this #######.
I received a check for Goldstein Holdings on July 23,2008 same details as mentioned above. I knew it was a scam but there was a brief moment I hoped it was true.
I too received a check from Mr. Al Snyder from Goldstein Holdings dated 7/17/2008 in the amount of $4,930. God I had wished it true, but of course not!! I asked the lady at Washington Mutual if it was real (I knew it was not) and she said definitely not and made a copy to send to their Fraud Department. I wish the guy would pay for scamming people who really need the money!!
I received a check from Mr. Al Snyder. The Check was from Goldstein Holdings Company and drawn off of Washington Mutual Bank for $4,930.00. I’ve been scamed before and was very skeptical. I looked on the web for any information I could find about this guy, thank God I did. This guy is a jerk. I don’t understand why they haven’t caught him yet. The really sad thing is there’s a lot of people that don’t have axcess to the web. Their the one’s that suffer. This guy needs to be caught!!! SOON, VERY SOON… Please, If you get one of these, turn it in to the proper authorities. This SOB needs to be stopped.
My mother, also disabled, received a check from Al Synder in the amount of $4,930 from Goldstein Holdings Company. She called me and I immediately told her NOT to cash it. This would have financially destroyed my parents!!! We will be turning it over to the proper authorities. My question is, has anyone heard anything in response from the authorities??
I received this same check today also from Goldstein Holdings Company for $4930. I knew something seemed so fishy about it so of course to the World Wide Web I went and here I am. I am going to be turning my check over to authorities in hopes of catching this guy, NOW!
Oh No! I received a check form Al Snyder and deposited it in my bank yesterday. Shame on me for not checking this site before I deposited it. What do I do now? Leave it in and pay the fee for a bounced check?
Helene
Helene, you should contact your bank and report the fraud, and then ask them how to proceed. It will show your good intentions and they’ll be less likely to arrest you.
I saw the Bank Manager this morning and they put a freeze on my account and are now letting the fraud department know. Thank heavens that I am off the hook with this nightmare. Thanks to this web site I became informed.
Helene
My bank is now suing me for the amount of the check. Any ideas?
Who is your bank, Jackie? I’m sorry to hear they’ve decided to play hardball. Unfortunately, there’s probably not a lot you can do. You cashed a bad check and the law doesn’t care much that you did it as an innocent victim.
Jackie,
My understanding is this. Once the bank releases the funds for you to use and you use them, then the check comes back not good it is your responsibility to cover the amount of the check. I had a similar situation where someone bought something from me and wrote me a rubber check, well thank goodness I didn’t spend the money or I would have been S.O.L. The bad thing was it took 4 months for it to come back bad. My recommendation? See if you can make payment arrangements with the bank or obtain a loan to cover the amount you owe. And if those are not options, for the time being you may want to open an account at a different bank until you get things straight with this account. Just some of my thoughts
I received a Check for $4,920.00, made out to Nora Winterbottom. Which is incorrect anyway. I have gone into BBB to locate the Business in Oakland Ca and is not listed. But, you put in the Fax Phone#310-919-0154. Shows that it is listed to “Female’s Business League” 2930 Donimgo Ave, Berkely, Ca 94705 which is totally different than the Check and The Business “Award Checks” The Financial Aid Station. You have three seperate Businesss of which BBB does not list 2 of them. Therefore I feel that this is dishonest business practices. Besides, we have had the Weber County Sherrifs Office talk with The Seniors on Scams. The Flags went up all over this thing. As much as you wish it were true. I don’t think it is. Thank you.
People be aware. Get rich schemes are on the rise.
You know what, Steve, I want to thank you for having this article up here on this website and saving my ass, thank god. This same incident almost happen to me, 3 weeks ago that is. I was joined this free work at home job called Royal Custom Jewels as a Financial Representative. My job was to get these checks by mail, then cash them in at my bank, send a moneygram via Western Union transfer, and kept the 10 percent for myself. When I went to the bank (also when I was on my way there), I just kept having this feeling that something was about to go wrong that day because even I never seen a check like this before in my life. The check looked like it was something from the Toshiba Computer Company, but was a bank (Yeah, right). Anyway, the bank teller who was about to cash in this check, look at it first and just knew it was fraud. I said to the teller, “You know, that’s the same thing I was thinking, that’s why I wanted to inform you guys to look at it, first because I don’t want anything bad happening in the future.” So, they told that it would take about three weeks from that day to solve this incident. Nothing happened yet (even though it’s been three weeks now), I will still wait. So when I got home, I tried to email the company that I was so called working for at that time. I didn’t get a single response from them every again. I knew from that day forward I was set-up. So then, three weeks later, they try to offer me another home business offer which was exactly the same one that almost tried to set me up. Boy, did I give it to they ass. They never emailed me again after what I did to them, because I knew it was the same big company, they just switched up names and stories, that’s it. So if anybody else, get some emails from the names of Julio Fernando and Rachael Rodriguez, or anybody else of this type of work where you get checks and cash them in for your supposed 10 percent comission, tell them to fuck off and don’t email me no more. I’m here to get them back for trying to pull that stunt on me. Steve, if you can give me some information on any other type of scams and legitmate jobs regular or work at home, please inform me?
Sincerely,
Juwon Manning
P.S
My email is fr_257@yahoo.com, please inform more about anything else because the more I’m reading about these stories the more I’m willing to learn more about this. I want to put a stop to these types of scams because people are losing a lot of money here. The number one rule like you said is “don’t spend no money on any type of job.”