Wegmans Name Used in Check-cashing Con
Phony checks accompanied by an equally phony letter bearing the name of Wegmans c.e.o. Danny Wegman went out to consumers as part of an apparent check-cashing scam, the chain said on Friday.
“We are aware that a number of consumers have received fraudulent checks that bear our name,” Wegmans spokerperson Jo Natale told Progressive Grocer. “Thus far, consumers who have contacted us directly about the scam live in states outside of our market areas. We have notified law enforcement authorities and the matter is now in their hands. And, of course, we are asking individual consumers to do the same.”
A television station in upstate New York reported that the scam tried to convince addressees they were winners of a "Swipe and Go" sweepstakes. Although the checks bore a real Rochester, N.Y. address used by Wegmans, the grocer has never held such a contest; and the checks, each for almost $2,500, isn't backed by any funds.
WSYR-TV in Syracuse, N.Y. reported that a bogus Canadian company came up with the scam.
As of last week, Wegmans had received about 60 calls from customers about the phony check mailings, according to the TV news report.
“We are aware that a number of consumers have received fraudulent checks that bear our name,” Wegmans spokerperson Jo Natale told Progressive Grocer. “Thus far, consumers who have contacted us directly about the scam live in states outside of our market areas. We have notified law enforcement authorities and the matter is now in their hands. And, of course, we are asking individual consumers to do the same.”
A television station in upstate New York reported that the scam tried to convince addressees they were winners of a "Swipe and Go" sweepstakes. Although the checks bore a real Rochester, N.Y. address used by Wegmans, the grocer has never held such a contest; and the checks, each for almost $2,500, isn't backed by any funds.
WSYR-TV in Syracuse, N.Y. reported that a bogus Canadian company came up with the scam.
As of last week, Wegmans had received about 60 calls from customers about the phony check mailings, according to the TV news report.