Rochester stylist targeted in celebrity fake check scam

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Rochester stylist thought he was about to land the job of a lifetime — working with actor Leon Robinson from The Five Heartbeats. Instead, it turned out to be a fake check scam.

Vandell Marshall says it all began at a fraternity convention in Florida. He met Robinson in Tampa after the actor was inducted into their fraternity — and at the airport, Marshall saw his chance to pitch himself as a stylist.

“I’m taking it as this is my my opportunity to just sell me, you know, as a stylist. You know, I did that, and he was like, hit him up,” said Marshall.

Soon after, Marshall says he connected with Leon on Facebook, believing he was chatting directly with the star.

“I thought I was talking to the actor Leon, the person I just saw. This person, since July, has held this conversation with me as Leon’s assistant,” Marshall expressed.

The so-called assistant promised Marshall styling work for a charity event.

“I’m ecstatic! I thought this would be the break I’ve been waiting for,” Marshall said.

Marshall sent over designs, gave his address — and then the checks started showing up.

“I’m thinking, ‘oh, OK, they’re going to mail an actual contract.’ Instead, I got a bunch of checks. $14,500, $4,900, $8,500 and $5200,” Marshall said.

“They weren’t certified bank checks; they were handwritten. My name was right on the envelope, but my name is spelled wrong on the checks. So I am like, somebody is trying to scam me and it’s not working,” Marshall added.

Then came the biggest red flag — an “accountant” calling on WhatsApp, pressuring Marshall to deposit money into multiple accounts. When he checked the return address, it traced back to an Extended Stay Hotel.

“The guy asked me if I had deposited the checks? … No, you want them back? And I haven’t heard from him since,” Marshall said.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that fake check scams cost consumers more than $28 million in 2019.

“Don’t access the funds if you think it’s suspicious, because if you do and you use those funds and the check comes back bad, you’re responsible for it,” said Ernie Laroche, manager of financial security at ESL Federal Credit Union.

Bank experts say even if a check looks real, it can still bounce days later.

“Depending on the transactions you’ve had on your account before, they’ll go through the eye test. Does it look like it’s a real check? Does it not look like a real check? And then it would deposit it,” Laroche explained.

Marshall says he never cashed the checks, but knows others might not be as cautious.

“Although that money would have solved a lot of my bills. But yeah, not like that. If it’s too good to be true, no matter how bad you need the finances, check first,” Marshall said.

Under New York law, knowingly cashing or using a forged check can result in criminal charges, from misdemeanor to felony offenses.

Marshall eventually spoke with the real Leon Robinson, who confirmed scammers were using his name. Unfortunately, Marshall never got his designs seen by the actor.