GOLDEN, Colo. -- An Internet scam sweeping the United States has reached a family in Jefferson County.

The scam involves the selling or renting of items over the web. After the foreign perpetrator agrees to buy the item, payment is agreed upon and the culprit sends the victim a cashier's check or money order in the mail. The amount the scammer sends is more than what was agreed upon. Then, the scammer sends the victim an e-mail saying he or she made a mistake and asks for a refund of the extra money.

The victim, without waiting for the scammer's check to clear, sends the overpayment to a Western Union office in another country. The original check is fake and the culprit takes the overpayment money sent back by the victim.

Authorities believe hundreds of thousands of dollars have been stolen from Americans to scammers in England, Canada and as far away as Nigeria.

Local police and law enforcement agencies across the country have been unable to make any arrests associated with the scam.

Here are a few tips to prevent becoming a victim:

Meet the other person face-to-face.
Demand the exact payment agreed upon.
Do not accept overpayment. Send back original funds.
Wait for any check or funds from the other person to clear through the bank.
Confirm the validity of a money order with the U.S. postal service or the company that issuing company.
Do not be intimidated by threats of the suspect going to the FBI.