A quick-thinking Chesterton resident avoided being scammed in a check deception scheme, Chesterton Police said.

According to police, a couple of weeks ago the resident listed his 2002 Ford Mustang for sale, at a price of $8,999, on www.vehix.com

 and on the next day received an e-mail from a “Thomas Crown”--formerly played by Steve McQueen in the original movie and Pierce Brosnan in the inferior re-make--who was so interested in buying the vehicle that he offered the resident an extra $100 to de-list the Mustang. The resident declined the offer. In a subsequent e-mail Mr. Crown informed the resident that he was sending a check and gave a Fed Ex tracking number. Curiously, the tracking number originated in New Jersey but Crown had said that he lived in Louisiana. When the check arrived, it was drawn on the account of Southwest Securities Inc. of Dallas, Texas, and signed by a “Michael Dawson,” last seen on a desert island in the TV show “Lost.”

The check was also in the amount of $12,450, and in instructions enclosed with the check Crown told the resident that the additional funds were for shipping the car.

The resident did not, however, immediately deposit the check and ship the car with its title. Instead, he called Southwest Securities to verify the validity of the check, police said, and was informed by the firm’s Fraud Department that the company has had a problem in the past with phony checks signed by “Michael Dawson.”

The company thanked the resident for his vigilance and asked him to report the matter to the CPD.

Southwest Securities indicated that it believes the man calling himself Thomas Crown is operating from Europe or Africa.

Posted 6/18/2009