KNOXVILLE -- The Knoxville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning the public to be aware of a new check scam which has affected multiple people in East Tennessee. Counterfeit checks, which appear to be issued by UT-Battelle LLC and range in amounts from approximately $2,200 to $3,000, have been sent to various individuals in various states.

The scammers send checks via FedEx to specific victims telling them to deposit the checks into their personal checking accounts. The victim is instructed to keep a portion of the deposit proceeds and send the remaining funds back to the sender. By the time the bank notifies the depositor the check is fraudulent, the depositor may have already sent the remaining funds back to the sender.

Personally identifiable information can readily be obtained from many different sources. However, early indications suggest some of the individuals who have received the UT-Battelle checks have either had items listed for sale on Craigslist or have responded to ads posted there. The FBI advises the public to be aware of these fraudulent schemes and to be diligent when receiving checks or solicitations in the mail or via e-mail. The FBI encourages the public to protect themselves and avoid becoming a victim of these types of scams.

For more information please visit the FBI website's Scams and Safety section at www.fbi.gov for the latest information on current fraud schemes and ways to defend against them.