Even in wonderful communities such as Smith Mountain Lake, good people can get ripped off by clever thieves. One of the most recent dangers to be aware of is getting taken in by a notice you may receive in the mail containing a check that claims to be your 2009 stimulus check (or part of it).

These checks look entirely legitimate and have been recieved in amounts as high as $5,000. You are thinking they can’t be cashed, but many of them have gone through at the banks, at first that is. Then once the bank digs a little deeper and declares the check counterfeit, if you have spent any of it, you will have to pay it back.

In some instances a notice comes with the fake stimulus check saying you will be awarded even more money if you call a toll-free number and give some personal information, which would then give them access to your accounts, etc.

Many people are caught by this deceit because everyone has heard of the package being talked about by the Obama administration. This legislation has not been passed yet however, and when it is, it will go through official channels. And unfortunately, it will not be thousands of dollars that we receive when and if it does happen.