I'm sorry this happened to your mother...it's amazing how many creeps are out there pulling this stuff! A number of months ago, I had a personal experience, only it had to do with a 'check' from Citibank - it looked legit, but I had a strange feeling it wasn't kosher, so I called Citibank, was told it was a scam, and to call the police. An elderly friend of ours also had a call from her 'favorite grandson', telling her he was in trouble in Texas, and needed her to send money...She was a smart cookie, and after listening a bit, told him he didn't sound anything like the grandson he said he was, and hung up on him. Good for her!