Scammers are passing counterfeit City of Gainesville checks, often for fake jobs or supplies. The city lost no money, and it has a number to call to check one.

Counterfeit checks made to look like City of Gainesville checks are being used to scam people, the city said Thursday.

The city said it had been notified that counterfeiters are using the fake checks. It said no city money has been lost. The warning is in a city news release published Nov. 12.

How the scam works

The city described two common setups. In some cases the check pays for supplies or services that do not exist. In others it is pay for a fake remote job.

The victim deposits the check. When it fails to clear, the victim is left responsible for any money already withdrawn against it, the city said.

The city said counterfeit checks are increasingly sophisticated and often look authentic, as if a trusted business had issued them.

How to protect yourself

The city passed on these Federal Trade Commission tips:

  • Know who you are dealing with, and never wire money to strangers.
  • Be skeptical of business opportunities that seem too good to be true.
  • Do not rely on money from a cashier’s, business or personal check until it has cleared your account. You are responsible for any funds withdrawn against a check.

What it means for you

  • If you get a check that says it is from the City of Gainesville and you are not sure it is real, call the city’s Department of Financial Services at 352-334-5057 before you deposit it or spend any of it.
  • Be wary of a city check that arrives as pay for a remote job or for supplies or services: those are the setups the city described.
  • If you think you have been scammed or suspect fraud, the city said to call the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office at 352-955-1818 or the Gainesville Police Department at 352-393-7500.

The city did not say how many fake checks have turned up or how much people have lost.