Received a check for $14.72 from Gilardi & Co, for a case against Check Into Cash of NC. The letter looks legit except that it repeats several time WHERE to cash the check.  Researching the web, I am getting a lot of information about a case about HAGER vs Check Into Cash but not getting a specific hit on why Bank of America seems to be the bank listed as being the only one that won't charge check cashing fees.   Anyone get a check for the same law suit?

I just got off the phone with the FTC reguarding these checks, and they are valid checks, the said the checks were just sent out last week.  If you're still not sure I'd suggest you call the FTC at 877-382-4357

This so-called FTC site is non-operational. I got one of these checks in Nov. 2010, cashed it and it bounced. Seems pretty scammy.

If anyone is still out there, hello.

I received one of these checks in the amount of $67.49 noted as void after March 18, 2011. I cashed it at my credit union on 11/24 but on 12/2 it bounced with the notation "unable to locate acct." I've been dealing with Verizon Wireless on this (I've never had Verizon any other way) and they are clueless. This is seeming more and more like a clever scam; because I cashed it rather than depositing it, I'm guessing (hoping) the Nigerians or whomever haven't been able to phish my checking account.

Hmm, an update to my last thoughts: Just because it does appear the FTC actually did send some checks out doesn't mean that every single check that references the FTC isn't a scam.  Some scammers could have noticed the news and sent Fraudulent checks out at the same time, and pointed people to the FTC so their scam check could look legitimate.

Received check in the mail.  Went to bank.  The employee said she tried to pull up images of other checks cashed from that account, and unusually she couldn't.  She suggested checking back in a week.  So I went home and verified the Federal Trade Commission's website is ftc.gov.  Knowing that .gov is generally legit, since it isn't open for public registry like .com is, I went to http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/9823616.shtm which was printed on the letter, and it had a link to http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/06/jkpublications.shtm which describes the company had 90.8% fraud and moved money offshore which caused delay in getting money to recipients.  (Over 10 years, wow... that someone has been staying on top of things for so long is rather amazing.)  If this was a scam, the scammers would have to be pretty talented to hack the government's website to put up the information and for a false press release to *remain* on the government's website.  Claims on this website about untrustworthiness of the checks seem speculative.  So it's probably legitimate.  I put the phone number from the letter into Google to see if I could verify who owns it, and happened across this website.
The sad part is... if 90.8% of the $49 million per year was fraudulent, that means that about 5 million was legit charges.  Honest guy that I am, I hate to think that I may have been a legit customer and then I'm getting back money that I shouldn't have, because I don't deserve to be getting money when I legitimately paid for the service.

To answer the question about how $19.95 turned into $27.68 (which is the amount of my check as well), perhaps over 10 years of interest helped increase it a bit?  That's just pure speculation.
http://www.examiner.com/x-1087-Denver-News-Ex ... -checks-Part-II
has a hyperlink to http://www.southsidebusiness.com/J.K.PublicationsCheckLetter.jpg which shows what the letter looked like (although he did white out the bar code and his name and address and the red numbers on the right side that matched the red numbers on the check that was attached via perforation to the letter.)
Interesting to read about the people who received over $50... maybe that was two checks?  It seems like a large number of people received a check for exactly $27.68.

The checks are good!!!!

Check out the latest news on the ftc website.

http://www3.ftc.gov/opa/2009/06/jkpublications.shtm

Any updates?  Has anyone deposited these checks and have had the funds clear and be available for use?

I've received 2 checks at 2 different address' - and yet Snopes is not reporting anything on its site.

After seeing the following press release from the FTC, I'm going to go ahead and deposit my check.

http://ftc.gov/opa/2009/06/jkpublications.shtm

got the check a few days ago too. both in the amount of $27.68. one check with my middle initial and the other none. i was suspicious also and glad to check the info on here. i just called the FTC using the FTC complaint hotline 877-382-4357. they said the checks are legitimate, and it is not unusual that there is no address under the Bank of the West. I too will wait to hear if others have any problems after they depoisted and if their check went thru. $55.36 is not worth trouble that may cost hundreds or thousands.

I think I'll wait until I hear from people who deposited the check and it actually cleared through the bank. The wording in the letter has me concerned. Also anyone can post here and who knows whether they are part of the scam if in fact it is a scam. For the small amount of the check i'll wait and see.

I just called the ftc:  1-877-382-4357.  Press 2 for consumer complaints and then hit the next prompt for "other" calls.  I spoke with a real person who let me know the checks were REAL.

I received the same response from Bank of the West today.  I have yet to get any response from Gilardi & Co.

Usually on a business check its the first set of numbers at the bottom... which in the case of the check we got... Does match the check number.

I'm sure its porn site related. Someone bought a mailing list and charged all the people knowing that those who visit these sites don't bother to keep tabs or just pay up quick before their wife finds out.

It's also from a class action suit - which means the defendants have to put the money in the account for a certain amount of time. Checks are sent out and people have a time period to cash them. After that, the defendants can take the money back out and you are out of luck if you havent cashed yours.

Not having called the FCC myself I Cant speak for the validity... but I am not sure that $27.68 is worth the risk...

Thanks All for your hard work! Its Nice to see Folks Working Together for a common cause.

Take Care!

Kevin

From Bank of the West:
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Abuse <abuse@bankofthewest.com>
To: xxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 7:53:03 AM
Subject: RE: Back Of the West checks for J.K. Publications, Inc., etc al.


Thank for you contacting Bank of the West.  The check(s) you have received are in fact legitimate and should be immediately deposited through your preferred banking institution.

Thank you.

My husband and I EACH received a check in the mail yesterday for the same amount, $27.68  I called the Federal Trade Commision---a number I obtained from their website and not the 800-number on the letter/checks that we received in the mail.  After waiting for some time, I was told by the operator on the other end of the line that the checks are legitimate!  It all seems a bit fishy to me regardless, but it was the FTC that I spoke to and assured me it's real..... so, I think that when I deposit the checks in our account, I will do so via the atm and I will not sign the check....they do not need to be signed for deposit.  How sad is it that we question so much now-a-days because there's so much fraud out there, that we consider tossing an authentic check in the trash! ....anyway,....if you have doubts, go on the FTC website through the site they had listed (www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/9823616.shtm) and hit the 'home' key....they will give you the phone numbers to report identity theft and fraudulent businesses.

I deposited one of the $27.68 checks this morning at Wells Fargo.  They placed a 10-day hold on the check.  Guess that means I cannot spend the money until then.

Has anyone deposited one of these checks yet...Please let us know...Curious if all went smoothly...

Thanks!

My Wife and I both received a check, I called the ftc at 12:19 am cst on 16 Jun 2009 and they verified that the checks are valid and were just recently approved for issue...

Contact Gilardi and Assoc. at 1-800-654-5763. They do not post FTC claims on their website, so that is why you can't look up the claim. The FTC website posts claims when they open, but they don't necessarily post updates regarding the claim. That is why there is no notice of the settlement after 10 years from the opening date.
Bottom line: The $27.68 checks appear to legitimate.

I called the FTC and they confirmed that it was a valid check.
If you have any questions, you should call them yourself.


1-877-382-4357  after going thru press English, etc.  press 'O' for the
              operator. Copy down their name and they will also give
              you a reference number of the call.

I called the FTC and they confirmed that it was a valid check.
If you have any questions, you should call them yourself.


1-877-382-4357  after going thru press English, etc.  press 'O' for the
               operator. Copy down their name and they will also give
               you a reference number of the call.

I received two of thes checks, and I was sceptic as well, however I called the FTC, and they said that these are valid check and the checks were just cut.  If you're still sceptic, I'd contact the FTC at 877-382-4357

Called Gilardi and they do not open until 8:00 am.
I have to say finding this website has been the best information on these checks. I had the same reservations and still do, until I can talk to Galardi and co. I will re-post another note after 8:00 am with what they tell me. Note: Does everyone show the same case number 9823616?

I also received two checks.
If you magnify there are red and blue security fibers in the paper.
Different for both checks.
Also, there are watermarks on the checks and letter.
There are supposed to be invisible fluorescent fibers but I have no way of checking these or the other security features printed on the back of the check.

If a scam, a pretty good one.  I think I'll wait.

Isn't this considered a class action suit?  Don't we have to file forms to receive monies due to us?  I received 3 checks for $27.68...pay to variation of our names.  It stated in the suit that JKP billed $19.95 so why give us $27.68?

Jennifer, have you ever had a debit card tied to your checking account?

Have you ever been listed on someone else's account? Are you a spouse of a man who applied for loan and had a credit card? Have you ever co-signed for a loan? I may be reaching here but that could explain it.