A con man armed with an erasible ink pen has bilked at least one victim out of $400.
Carson City Sheriff's Department is warning the public against writing checks for strangers who knock on their doors.
Detective Bob Motamenpour said that last week a Minden woman wrote a $5 check to a person claiming to be collecting money for a sport program in the area.
"Then he hands over his pen and the woman wrote the check for $5 and gave him the check. He erased the check and made it for $400," he said.
The man cashed the check at the US Bank in Carson City.
Motamenpour said if someone is soliciting donations and you want to help, check out the group first.
"Find out if it's legitimate and make a phone call or two. If you want to write a check, use your own pen," he said.