How do you tell if a settlement payment check is legitimate?
August 7, 2024 1:12 PM Subscribe
My mom received a settlement payment check in the mail. There are multiple reasons to think it's legitimate. We're just not sure if there's a vector for a scam that we're just not seeing.
In 2017, my mom helped me purchase a Macbook Pro with a butterfly keyboard. The keyboard was riddled with problem and had to have multiple repairs. In fact, Apple eventually replaced the whole laptop for free after it started to develop other issues as well - the thing was basically a lemon.
In late July or early August of 2024, Apple started to send out checks to customers who were affected by faulty butterfly keyboards, and my mom received a check in the mail. There's a letter linking to this website for more information. The check seems to be legitimate: The amount is the same as has been reported by others, the names are all consistent, there's no request for money or any other obvious scammy red flags. It's just a letter explaining the settlement and a check for an amount. Really, it looks legitimate ... but many a victim of a scam has thought the same.
The only way this could be a scam is if someone is taking advantage of the settlement to appear legitimate, and the act of depositing the check is all they need to run the scam (because that's all she has to do). But I don't know whether that's possible or likely.
In 2017, my mom helped me purchase a Macbook Pro with a butterfly keyboard. The keyboard was riddled with problem and had to have multiple repairs. In fact, Apple eventually replaced the whole laptop for free after it started to develop other issues as well - the thing was basically a lemon.
In late July or early August of 2024, Apple started to send out checks to customers who were affected by faulty butterfly keyboards, and my mom received a check in the mail. There's a letter linking to this website for more information. The check seems to be legitimate: The amount is the same as has been reported by others, the names are all consistent, there's no request for money or any other obvious scammy red flags. It's just a letter explaining the settlement and a check for an amount. Really, it looks legitimate ... but many a victim of a scam has thought the same.
The only way this could be a scam is if someone is taking advantage of the settlement to appear legitimate, and the act of depositing the check is all they need to run the scam (because that's all she has to do). But I don't know whether that's possible or likely.
When I read through your post, I see absolutely no warning flags of this being some sort of scam.
I would deposit the check.
posted by saeculorum at 1:21 PM on August 7 [6 favorites]
I would deposit the check.
posted by saeculorum at 1:21 PM on August 7 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Usually scams involving checks are what is known as an advanced fee scan and they work by exploiting the 'float' which is the time between when you deposit a check and when the money is actually transferred. This kind of scam works like this:
1) The scammer sends you a fraudulent check made out for a large amount of money.
2) You deposit the check.
3) The scammer contacts you, says there was some sort of mistake, and asks for some fraction of that money back.
4) Before the check clears, you debit your account and send money to the scammer.
5) The check bounces. You never had any of the money the scammer sent you and now you're out the amount of money that you sent to them.
As long as you deposit the check and no one asks you for any of that money back before the check clears, you should be safe.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:39 PM on August 7 [7 favorites]
1) The scammer sends you a fraudulent check made out for a large amount of money.
2) You deposit the check.
3) The scammer contacts you, says there was some sort of mistake, and asks for some fraction of that money back.
4) Before the check clears, you debit your account and send money to the scammer.
5) The check bounces. You never had any of the money the scammer sent you and now you're out the amount of money that you sent to them.
As long as you deposit the check and no one asks you for any of that money back before the check clears, you should be safe.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:39 PM on August 7 [7 favorites]
Best answer: I got this check! I responded to an email they sent out a million years back about those g-d keyboards, so I was waiting for my check, and I went ahead and deposited it when it came the other day. So if it IS an extremely elaborate scam, me and your Mom are in it together, but I'm 99% sure it's not. Enjoy!
posted by Merricat Blackwood at 1:57 PM on August 7 [2 favorites]
posted by Merricat Blackwood at 1:57 PM on August 7 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I am a lawyer (I am not your lawyer). My check for this settlement arrived this week. I cashed it without further thought.
The long form notice makes clear that no claim submission was required for some members of the class. The payments were automatically made. (I'm referring to Group 1 in the notice). Based on what you're describing, you may have been one of those members.
There is a claims administrator you can contact if you want to confirm that you are a member of the class. The number listed on the website is 855-579-1311. You could also submit this form on the administrator website and see if they get back to you that way. But I would not overthink this.
posted by moosetracks at 1:58 PM on August 7 [7 favorites]
The long form notice makes clear that no claim submission was required for some members of the class. The payments were automatically made. (I'm referring to Group 1 in the notice). Based on what you're describing, you may have been one of those members.
There is a claims administrator you can contact if you want to confirm that you are a member of the class. The number listed on the website is 855-579-1311. You could also submit this form on the administrator website and see if they get back to you that way. But I would not overthink this.
posted by moosetracks at 1:58 PM on August 7 [7 favorites]
Best answer: This doesn't sound like a scam but in general if you receive a check that you're not sure of you can try cashing it at the bank it's drawn on rather than depositing at your own bank. If you present it at the teller window of the bank it was drawn on, they can look at the account number and verify that the account number is real and the account belongs to the company it says it is from. Potential downsides or issues: Some larger banks charge a fee for doing this if you are not a customer. Some banks may not have branches near you.
posted by needs more cowbell at 4:09 PM on August 7 [1 favorite]
posted by needs more cowbell at 4:09 PM on August 7 [1 favorite]
Several of my coworkers have gotten this check recently.
posted by asharchist at 8:40 PM on August 7
posted by asharchist at 8:40 PM on August 7
Best answer: ...but many a victim of a scam has thought the same.
It's not usually that everything looks perfect, it's more that the amount of money and/or sense of time pressure are such that they overlook and/or talk themselves out of flaws and/or holes in the story. If someone sends you a check for $3000 saying it's your $300 Apple check except whoops they hit that zero button a little hard, so please refund them $2500 and keep the extra for your trouble, then you should be concerned. In this scenario, I'd just be pleased that for once a class action lawsuit actually yielded meaningful amounts of pay-out per member, and without any hoops to jump through for you even!
posted by teremala at 4:28 AM on August 8 [2 favorites]
It's not usually that everything looks perfect, it's more that the amount of money and/or sense of time pressure are such that they overlook and/or talk themselves out of flaws and/or holes in the story. If someone sends you a check for $3000 saying it's your $300 Apple check except whoops they hit that zero button a little hard, so please refund them $2500 and keep the extra for your trouble, then you should be concerned. In this scenario, I'd just be pleased that for once a class action lawsuit actually yielded meaningful amounts of pay-out per member, and without any hoops to jump through for you even!
posted by teremala at 4:28 AM on August 8 [2 favorites]
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posted by Kutsuwamushi at 1:16 PM on August 7