Who pays for bank check fraud? You do
Posted: Wednesday, October 3 at 02:29 pm CT by Bob Sullivan
A view of FakeChecks.org.
The cashier's check has long been an Internet criminal's best friend. Consumers seem to think cashier's checks, which come emblazoned with bank logos, are as good as cash. Once a check clears and funds are made available, people think the check must be legit.
But that's not true. It can take weeks for banks to identify fraudulent checks. That means it might be a month or more before they take the money out of your account.
For years, online con artists have exploited this misunderstanding. But the United States Postal Inspector's office is launching a new campaign aimed at clearing things up. On Wednesday, the agency announced the arrest of 77 criminals worldwide involved in bank check frauds, and unveiled a new public education TV campaign and Web site named FakeChecks.org.
With a bit of wry humor, the site exposes six common cashier's check scams: online seductions, overpayments, renter schemes, fake lotteries, work-at-home scams, and foreign business partnerships.
You might think you're too clever to fall for any of these cons, but they still work. The Postal Inspectors also announced the seizure of fake checks worth more than $2 billion from January to August of this year.
The National Consumers League released data on Wednesday showing that most consumers are confused about who picks up the tab for check fraud. Only one-third of those surveyed realized that they are responsible if a check they cash turns out to be fraudulent, said Susan Grant, vice president of the National Consumers League.
'I Chop Your Dollar'
The postal service announcement at the National Press Club, included officials from Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Canada, and stressed the international nature of the crime.
International cooperation has helped U.S. authorities put "boots on the ground," in Nigeria, said Greg Campbell of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. In many fake check scams, criminals are overseas but victims are in the U.S., so it's important to convince international authorities to "protect our (U.S.) citizens and go after their criminals," he said.
Johan van Hartskamp, commissioner of the Amsterdam Police, said his agency recently raided a party at a cafe where a large group of West Africans were celebrating their successful cons against U.S. victims. About 100 illegal immigrants were arrested, and 67 were charged with some form of fake check fraud. At the party was a famous Nigerian comedian, there to perform a sarcastic song titled "I Chop Your Dollar," in which a Nigerian con artist describes how easy it is to scam Americans.
The scams vary wildly, but the basic premise is always the same: A criminal sends a consumer a fake check, which the victim deposits into their bank account. Because bank laws require that funds be made available within a few days, the money appears in the victim's account quickly. And that point, many consumers believe the bank has blessed the check and the money cannot be removed. Then, the con artists ask for some of the money to be returned, usually via an irreversible and untraceable wire transfer. Since the victims think the original check has been validated, they comply.
Cashier's and corporate checks, however, are just as likely to be fraudulent as personal checks. For 30 days or more, the bank that deposits the check can reach back into the consumer's account and take the money -- leaving the consumer with a large debt.
Convicing schemes
Among the more convincing ruses is an apartment rental scam. A criminal posing as a college student will answer an online advertisement for an apartment by saying they live overseas, and will happily send a security deposit and first month's rent without seeing the apartment. The landlord cashes the fake check. Then, a few weeks later, the prospective renter writes to say that something has gone wrong with the college admissions office and asks for a partial refund of the deposit.
A landlord who tries to be fair and returns the money loses it.
FakeCheck.org includes funny "Candid Camera" style videos of an actor getting members of the public to fall for fake check scams, and videos of real victims sharing their stories.
One thing that isn't on the site: Any mention of changing consumer protection law to make it harder for banks to take back funds they've already deposited into consumers' accounts.
Grant said some banks have begun training tellers to offer more detailed instructions about check-cashing liabilities and that such education efforts have worked. At one bank, fake check fraud plummeted 85 percent after tellers were trained to warn consumers about cashing any check for more than $1,000. Her agency is pushing for new banking laws that would require such notification.
Still, one British law enforcement official, who asked not to be identified, said better banking procedures in the U.K. are one reason British citizens suffer almost no fake check fraud.
"The tellers would look at a check like that and just say, 'I'm not cashing this,' and throw it away," he said.
RED TAPE WRESTLING TIPS
· It's worth visiting Fakechecks.org just to watch the videos, they're that funny. But if you don't, you'll see some of them on local television soon anyway. The ads make the point that people do things online that they'd never do in real life, such as cash a check for a stranger. That’s a good question to ask yourself when conducting financial transactions online: Would I do this in person?
· Maybe you are too smart to fall for this, but don't assume your friends and relatives -- particularly older relatives -- are. Don't be shy; ask your parents if they know about check cashing laws and Nigerian scams.
· To review: According to U.S. law, you are responsible for verifying the authenticity of a check. Just because a check clears and the money is put into your account doesn't mean the check is legitimate and the money is yours. The truth is, there's no real way to verify a check is authentic. You can call the issuing bank and ask, and you can even visit the bank in person, but the answer you get might not be accurate. So never cash a check from a stranger if you can avoid it; and if you have to, never spend or refund even part of the money for at least a month, in case the check is fraudulent.
When crime called, cell phone was silent
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More consumer news
Consumer Man, aka Herb Weisbaum, exposes scams and answers questions
It still amazes me how many people fall for these type of scams. Don't people realize if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is? Or maybe they are just blinded by the dollar signs they see.
And I quote Forrest Gump "Stupid is as stupid does."
Greg, Enola, Pa (Sent Oct 3, 2007 3:35:58 PM)
Ok, so what do you do if you are selling a car for example? Insist on cash or a wire transfer?
Jim Kay, Houston, TX (Sent Oct 3, 2007 3:36:22 PM)
Whether the customer has the funds pulled from their account or the bank eats the loss, it still ends up being a loss to the consumer. Too many people are standing in line to blame financial institutions for outrageous fees and penalties. Yet, these same financial institutions suffer huge losses on a daily basis due to fraud. A financial institution is a business instituted to make a profit. If fraud continues to eat away at that profit, fees and penalties go up. If they didn't, the institution would soon collapse and leave an exhorbetent number of people out of a job. And then, we the consumers get to pay for unemployment benefits. So.....no matter how you look at it, the consumer pays the tab. My advise, if your bank doesn't want to give you immediate access to your cashiers check funds until the check is determined to be legitimate, consider it good advice!
(Sent Oct 3, 2007 4:08:33 PM)
"Ok, so what do you do if you are selling a car for example? Insist on cash or a wire transfer?"
If the buyer does not pay cash, walk with him/her to his/her bank and ask the bank for a cashier check. Even pay for the fee of the cashier check.
If you have account at the same bank, it's even easier.
(Sent Oct 3, 2007 4:26:23 PM)
People don't give out free money!
If you're selling something, you shouldn't have to give some money back. If you are winning a lottery, you shouldn't have to pay to get the winnings.
Banks do not have a magic pen to determine if a check is real or not, so if you are unsure, be cautious!
(Sent Oct 3, 2007 4:29:00 PM)
Jim Kay --if you are selling a car, go to the purchaser's bank with them and go to the teller window to watch the transaction. Get cash if at all possible. That's the only way to be sure.
Elle W. Sacramento, CA (Sent Oct 3, 2007 4:36:44 PM)
To Jim Kay,
My recommendation in this situation is to go to the bank with the buyer and watch the cashier's check be prepared. That way you aren't carrying around a large sum of cash, but you know the check is good. If a cashier's check is actually legitimate, the bank is required to pay it.
(Sent Oct 3, 2007 4:38:48 PM)
Surely there must be a time limit. Banks should not get away
shankar (Sent Oct 3, 2007 4:42:36 PM)
Guess if I sell anything it will be on a "cash-only" basis.
(Sent Oct 3, 2007 5:25:41 PM)
It's ridiculous Banks get a full month to pull the money back--way too long
Dallas (Sent Oct 3, 2007 5:26:25 PM)
How about this one... I recently sold a car. The buyer paid with a bank check from a major bank which he took a loan from for the car. Two weeks later, the bank cancels the check! Apparently they did not recieve some piece of documentation from the buyer so they felt free to pull the money back. I've been told this is extremely borderline legal, but who am I to battle a major bank. In the end, they got the info and paid the check and my bank was nice enough to waive the fees and penalties, but be forewarned, even a bank check actually from a big bank is not worth the paper it is printed on.
Ed from NY (Sent Oct 3, 2007 7:12:23 PM)
There used to be a method of depositing a check "for collection." That way, the money would not go into the depositor's account until the bank had collected the funds. Is that still done?
(Sent Oct 3, 2007 7:23:25 PM)
I got taken on one of these scams. I didn't get mad, I got even. Everytime I look in the paper and see an ad for the scam that I fell for, I notify the paper. I don't want someone to fall for the same mistake I got taken for. I also got a "cashier's check" delivered to me by UPS along with a letter stating that I should sent the "excess" monies to another person in China. Took the check, letter and envelope to the bank that the check was written on. Bank was legit, company it was written against was legit however, they never issued the check, and I wasn't expecting money from them. Never heard of them before. Bank sent all information that I turned over to them to their fraud department. KUDOS to all of us for helping stop this crime or any crime.
crimebuster (Sent Oct 3, 2007 8:57:06 PM)
As a bank teller, I have had a number of customers become irate with me when I told them there would be a lengthy hold on a large foreign funds check, or that I would not accept it at all because I believed it to be fraudulent. And by irate, I mean screaming, cursing and punching walls. They don't even realize that we're trying to protect THEM.
Additionally, most people do not realize the amount of effort that goes into verifying a check. There is no magic scanner that tells us if a check is good or not; it takes multiple people multiple days of physically examining EACH check and communicating with other financial institutions to determine the legitimacy of a check. Consumers demand speedy access to funds, so they must take some of the responsibility for their transactions.
In a nutshell, if it sounds too good to be true: it is!!
(Sent Oct 3, 2007 9:23:26 PM)
The 30 days might be too long, but in any questionable transaction it certainly is a precautionary (CYA) time period. And, if there are any extreme circumstances (power outages, processing errors, fraudulent bank routing numbers on the items) the time period to discover the fraud could actually be longer.
Consider this - if the item is altered it can be returned for 1 year! And if there is any dispute with the endorsement - 3 years!
And those are only regulations for US items. International check processing regulations are completely different.
To be honest, I'd rather let the bank hold my money for that 30 days than risk the loss of $2500 - $6500 the average loss on these frauds (depending on demographics) according to FTC reports.
My bank is trying to educate its customers - I see brochures and advertisements in the brach, they have alerts on their web site.
I'm amazed that so many consumers still fall for these scams - there are alerts on the news, in the paper, on web sites - virtually every where you look.
I think all of this just says that we (the consumer) need to be responsible for our actions - don't fall for these ridiculous scams, ask questions if you are unsure, and review your account statements immediately and report any discrepancies right away.
**J (Sent Oct 3, 2007 10:32:39 PM)
To this day, 10 years after my now EX-Husband cashed a check for a friend I still can't open a bank account. He got off lucky, I paid it back.
(Sent Oct 4, 2007 12:10:31 AM)
It is not the bank's job to make sure you are doing business with honest and legal people/entities. Financial institutions are not there to absorb any loss because you as the consumer fell for a scam. You the consumer are in the best position to know if the check you received is from an honest and legal person or business. And yes 30 days is a long time, but checks are not magically sent to the bank they are drawn off of for immidiate payment. Checks still have to be encoded, processed, sent to the Federal reserve, sometimes physically flown to other parts of the country, processed more, and finally physically given to the bank's processor for payment. Then if the check turns out to be no good, even just NSF, the check has to go back through that entire process to get to the bank it was deposited at and at some points usually mailed through the U.S. postal system.
James O (Sent Oct 4, 2007 2:09:03 AM)
Nice catch twenty-two. As a customer, you have no way of checking the validity of a check, but you are responsable for doing so. It seems to me that banks should just do their work better. I believe it's laziness that it takes them a month to check these things.
Once they've deposited the money in my account it is be mine, not theirs. The fact that I have handed over access to my money to a bank, does not mean it's theirs to do whatever they want to.
Customers need to be protected better against predatory banks.
And a little note to the bankies here that feel bad for the banks: if banks feel they need more protection from fraud, they can lobby for that with Congress themselves. It is not my problem, and I take it as bad customer service that they make it mine, just because it's easier to shift it to customers, than to deal with it themselves.
Nepkarel (Sent Oct 4, 2007 10:45:02 AM)
In point of fact, at least some checks can still be variously manipulated up to six months after a transaction. In plain English in this case, a check could have been cancelled (company check) up to that time limit. US Bank I believe though I'd not swear to it.
--Glenn
Glenn Charles, Medford, OR (Sent Oct 4, 2007 1:09:56 PM)
If I sell something on eBay, I always accept only Paypal. I figure they protect me more than my bank would if I deposited a fake check or money order.
(Sent Oct 4, 2007 1:31:00 PM)
This is a copy of the last letter i received. These fraudsters have sent me email after email to get me to do this thank god i have enough sense not to fall for this crap. i hit spam everytime but they must have hundreds of these different adddresses From: "Joyce Eze" Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: SISTER. JOYCE EZE
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 17:28:00 +0100
HELLO MY DEAR ,
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS MAIL MUST GET AT YOU BY GOD'S GRACE, AS I DO NOT KNOW YOU IN PERSON AND NOT QUITE SURE OF YOUR CURRENT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR ME TO BE SURE, BUT I KNOW HOW I MANAGE TO GET THIS MAIL ADDRESS WHICH I USED TO COMMUNICATE YOU.
HOWEVER, I AM SISTER MRS. JOYCE EZE AND I AM WORKING WITH THE NATIONS APEX BANK; ACCOUNTING UNIT/TELEX DEPARTMENT CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA .
MY AIM OF WRITING IS NOT TO KNOW YOU AS I HAVE NO INTEREST OF KNOWING YOU AND WOULD NOT LIKE TO KNOW YOU UNLESS IF NEEDS BE. BUT I AM TELLING YOU THIS BASED ON MY BELIEVE AS A PERSON WHO DOES NOT LIKE EVIL OR CHEATING AND WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE CALLED FOR EXPLANATION AS A RESULT OF THIS INFORMATION I AM GIVING TO YOU .
BUT I AM TELLING YOU THIS BASED ON MY BELIEVE AS PERSON WHO DOES NOT LIKE EVIL OR CHEATING AND WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE CALLED FOR EXPLANATION AS A RESULT OF THIS INFORMATION I AM GIVING TO YOU
BELOW. AS A STRAIGHT FORWARD PERSON, I BELIEVE THAT ANY MAN/WOMAN IS MY BROTHER/SISTER
ACCORDING TO MY BELIEVE IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE YOU MUST
HAVE COME FROM WE ARE SAME HUMANBEING. THIS INFORMATION IS AS REGARDS TO YOUR PAYMENT IN NIGERIA .
NOW AS I AM CONTACTING YOU, PAYMENTS ARE GOING ON TO THOSE THAT ARE AWARE OF THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT GAZZETED TO THE PUBLIC AWARENESS.THESE EXERCISES HAVE STARTED FOR SOMETIME NOW BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PRANKS SOME CORRUPT OFFICIALS IN THE CENTRAL BANK THAT DIVERTED YOUR FUNDS TO A BANK IN SWITZERLAND . FROM THE INFORMATION, THE SECRETARY OF PROBE PANEL AND VERIFICATION ON CONTRACT AND NEXT OF KIN MATTERS AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE AND SOME OTHER OFFICIALS SUMMED UP WITH TO DIVERT YOU? RE FUNDS.
THIS INFORMATION AS A RESULT OF MY RECENT DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH AND I CALLED THEN TO QUESTION BUT THEY TRIED TO BRIBE ME, BUT I REFUSED BECAUSE I AM A CHEAT. I HAVE TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR! FUNDS INTEREST AT A TUNE OF USD$22.3MILLION WAS TRANSFERRED INTO A SWISS ACCOUNT PROVIDED BY A FAKE LAWYER PORTRAYED HIMSELF TO BE YOUR LAWYER. I MUST INFORM YOU THAT THE OFFICERSINVOLVED ARE ALWAYS IN COMMUNICATION WITH YOU , SO YOU SHOULD STOP TALKING WITH THEM AND DO NOT TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE WAITING FOR THE TRANSFER .
SINCE WE HAVE AN EVIDENCE AT HAND, HEREBY ADVISED YOU TO CONTACT THE
AUTHORIZED C.B.N SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY IN TEMA GHANA WHOM ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR PAYMENT AND THE APPROVED LAWYER ATTACHED TO THE SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY IN THE NAME OF MR. CLEMENT OBED AND EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO HIM AS YOUR FILE WAS SENT TO HIM ON THE 4TH AUGUST, 2007 AND WHEN CONTACTING THE LAWYER QUOTE YOUR FILE REFERENCE NUMBER A010-2007 HE IS THE FINAL STONE THAT BREAKS THE CAMELS BACK.
MY ADVICE TO YOU BASED ON THIS INFORMATION IS THAT YOU SHOULD BOLDLY CALL MR. CLEMENT OBED THE LAWYER AT THE SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY ON HIS DIRECT EMAIL TELEPHONE NUMBER .HE IS THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF ALL THE LEGAL CLEARANCES FOR THIS ON-GOING PAYMENT EXERCISE AND ASK HIM THAT HE SHOULD HELP YOU IN MAKING SURE YOUR FUND IS PAID TO YOU IMMEDIATELY AND DO THE CHANGES TO MOVE YOUR FUNDS TO YOUR ORIGINAL ACCOUNT AND FOLLOW HIS DIRECTIVES.
HE MIGHT WANT TO KNOW HOW COME YOU GOT HIS DIRECT EMAIL, YOU CAN TELL HIM ANYTHING (PLEASE, DON? T QUOTE ME) BUT INSIST THAT HE SHOULD HELP YOU IN MAKING SURE YOUR PAYMENT IS DONE, AND FOR MORE CLARIFICATION OR TO ENSURE HIM THAT YOU REALLY KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING QUOTE THE FOLLOWING CODE NO: FGN/PMG/CBN- X342XTW2004 UNDER CATEGORY 'C' I.E. YOUR CODE (PLEASE THIS INFORMATION IS CLASSIFIED).
I BELIEVE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE WILL ASK YOU TO FORWARD YOUR PAYMENT INFORMATION AND BANK CO-ORDINATES TO HIM FOR HIS PROCESSES AS HE WILL DIRECT YOU PROPERLY ON HOW TO FOLLOW UP FOR YOUR FUND TO BE MADE TO YOU WITHOUT FURTHER STRESS. IF YOU CONTACT HIM I WILL KNOW BECAUSE HE MUST CONTACT MY OFFICE FOR YOUR INFORMATION RE-CONFIRMATION RECORDS. SO GO AHEAD AND CALL HIM NOW AND DON'T BE AFRAID OF HIM OR ANYBODY, ANY PERSON APART FROM HIM IS DEFINITELY A FRAUD.
YOURS SINCERELY,
SISTER. JOYCE EZE
Debra Riddle, Crockett, Texas (Sent Oct 4, 2007 2:06:05 PM)
I've had a bank teller tell me that you should simply cash the check for actual cash--don't deposit the item. Once the teller hands you the cash, the responsibility for the validity of the cashiers check falls to the bank. Can any bankers out there verify this?
Will James (Sent Oct 4, 2007 4:17:49 PM)
I have been in banking for 20+ years...some advice:
1) ASK the teller to call and verify the check. Many tellers are too timid (or nieve) to call on a check. They don't want to "offend a good customer". But it's not about the credibility of the customer-it's the validity of the item. If it's totally bogus, they will decline the deposit and save you the grief.
2) Don't think you're going to sell a $600 computer for $7,000. Or a set of collectible action figures (probably worth $50) for $3,700. Or a $800 beat up Buick Regal for $8,400.
Yes, real situations, real customers. 1st one had already wired the money before the bogus cashier's check was returned. The 2nd one was caught by an experienced teller and not accepted for deposit. The customer was a young college student and very grateful she called. Third one was ME! and no, I did not think I was really going to get $8,400 for my 1991 piece of junk, with a passenger door that would not open. I deleted the email ... and ended up donating the heap to charity.
3) If they tell you "DON'T TELL ANYONE" that's a sure sign that you should. They don't want you to tell because they don't want someone dispelling your hopes that this could be real.
Carol O. West Hartford, CT (Sent Oct 4, 2007 5:25:30 PM)
Nepkarel - As a customer you most certainly have ways to determine the validity of a check. It's called a phone book - you call the maker/issuer of the check and confirm that they legitimately issued that check to you for that amount. Then you call the bank to see if funds are available (but, with all the privacy laws that consumers urged Congress to pass, keep your fingers crossed that they'll even tell you!). And, hopefully, for your sake, by the time the check that you deposit gets to that drawn on bank, the funds are still there to cover it. This is the same (difficult) process that any financial institution has to go through. And they have to deal it with it multiple times, every day, for every customer!
But, you are right - once the credit for your deposit appears in your account, the money is yours. But if it's money from a counterfeit/fraudulent check, it isn't.
I think consumer protection doesn't need to be focused on predatory banks, but rather on protection from these scams. And consumers need to be educated better about the banking process. Because as soon as a bank starts telling Congress that they want more protection and make suggestions (like holding deposited funds for a longer period of time), you the consumer will get angry/irate over that. And honestly, the bank teller does not deserve to be cursed at or yelled at simply because they are trying to protect the customer.
I'm curious as to what has caused your apparent bitterness to financial institutions - too many fees, poor customer service, high rates on loans?
**J (Sent Oct 4, 2007 10:11:42 PM)
WOW. I just saw one of the commercials and went looking for the website.
This morning my elderly mother (mid-80s) received a $4000 check as an advance on a 250K lottery she had won. Yes, she has spent years entering these things. The account was with a forex broker (no number on their website); and I couldn't find the company's phone number in NYC. I didn't know about calling the bank (JP Morgan Chase).
The contact in the letter told us to deposit it, then call her back for wiring information. The wire address was Canada (Halifax, NS). I did a search on the number of the woman I was talking with - also Canada. DOH!
I know to wait - but didn't realize it could be 30 days. Or more!
She wanted us to wire 3/4s of it. I asked her what assurances she had that she is legit. She said to check with my bank. To check with the Better Business Bureau (which is essentially a voluntary participation association - they have no authority, and their influence varies by region). I asked her how long she worked there. She said 20 years. I asked why I hadn't heard of this before. Then I asked her the name of the company...she hung up.
I called back - she refused to answer.
Classic evasion.
Go figure.
We'll submit it all the the US Postmaster General, which is where you send mail fraud.
I'm glad this website and campaign have been established.
(Sent Oct 5, 2007 5:07:43 AM)
Correct me if I'm wrong, please.
But if I recall, you can be prosecuted for depositing a Fake/Forged Check? I've not heard of any cases of prosecution involving these scam checks, but was just wondering if it's true?
It would be kind of a double whammy, to be out the cash and face prosecution, no?
Humbly yours..
TWE in SATX, (Sent Oct 5, 2007 8:03:16 AM)
I like to play the game with the people who send the fake checks. A buddy of mine and I are having a contest to see who can get the most fake checks. I like wasting the time of the spammers. My tolal is $18,250. He is up to $24,000. We may waste some of our time but we waste alot of their time.
(Sent Oct 5, 2007 8:52:54 AM)
Debra, that letter is hilarious. I've received many. I sometimes try to have fun with the scammers by asking the to do or say outlandish things. Some of the replies I've received are priceless.
On the subject of fake checks. I've just recently received one in the mail. I had placed my resume on a few online job websites like Monster.com and think that's where they got my home address. The check they sent me looked good. It was supposedly drawn on a business that happens to have the same bank that I do business with and the routing number was correct. I checked online and sure enough, there is a legit company with that name and address. But upon just a little closer look at the check any doubts that I had that the check was a fake vanished. They spelled the companys name wrong! Instead of "XYZ Industries", it was "XYZ Intdutries". The fools. Just for laughs I took it to my bank and showed it to the assistant bank manager. I told her it was fake. She looked at it and said "So what do you want me to do about it"? I guess I was mistaken to think that an assistant manager of a large New England bank (Sovereign) would take interest in such an obvious forgery and at least warn the company that there were fake checks floating around with their name on them. Needless to say, I've since changed banks.
http://bluecatsblog.blogspot.com/
Bluecat4usa (Sent Oct 5, 2007 8:57:42 AM)
I never communicate back with these people who send spam. Once you communicate with them, they are able to tell that it's a working email address. Then they send other kinds of spam to try and get you personal information. Never reply to those B******s.
http://www.freewebs.com/galleryshops/jewelry.htm
Belinda Carlisle (Sent Oct 7, 2007 10:07:19 PM)
Check 21 was a big old giveaway to the banks to enable them to not only save tons of money on processing physical checks (by allowing them to to be cleared electronically), but to reduce the consumer's float time on checks they issued to practically nothing at all. This was NOT reciprocated with a reduction in float times the banks are allowed to keep you from your deposits, which can still be up to tne business days. Wake up! If the banks can clear their funds for their benefit that quickly there is no reason they should be able to hold your funds hostage 'against possible fraud' for any length of time.
Andy, San Juan PR (Sent Oct 7, 2007 10:33:57 PM)
To:Jim Kay
Use money order or western union. You can also have funds given through paypal if you are selling online. These are safe for the most part and they require ID by both parties. And the greatest thing they are insured.
(Sent Oct 7, 2007 11:41:47 PM)
As a former banking center manager I saw plenty of fake checks that our customers received from fake lotteries, online sales, even a fake U.S. Treasury IRS refund check! I can't tell you how many customers would get upset at my tellers, personal bankers and me when we would tell them what was so obvious to us -- as in yelling, closing accounts because we would not negotiate the checks, calling us incompetent, etc.
I recently received a fake check in the mail -- a refund from a State Farm lottery drawn on Bank of America. The envelope was postmarked in South Africa, the letter was not on State Farm letterhead, the phone number to call if I had any questions was in London and the routing number for Bank of America - Virginia was wrong (started with the GA/FL code)!
Yes, there is a collection process that customers can request -- but it can take upwards of 6 weeks to get a reply, especially if it is a foreign check. Unfortunately customers don't want to hear that. The hold that banks put on a check deposited into an account is not long enough to determine if the check is good.
pianolvr, Austin, TX (Sent Oct 8, 2007 10:59:29 AM)
i feel real lucky i saw this website on t.v ,Iam not working right now so i did what alot of pepole do. I looked online for a job i send out my resume to alot of places then i get an email from a so called company in the uk.they said they were and art gallery looking for someone in the states.they said all i need to do was resive payments for them and then weire it to them for this i was gona resive a 10%of the acutual check..they said they do it like this becuase if they were to cash it they would get charged 25% of the ernings.so they rather pay someone 10%and have them weire it .at first i thought it made sence so i went along with it they send me another email telling me that i was going to resive my first assignment this week ..so i was pretty happy until i saw the comercial on t.v and i decide to check out the website.now everything makes perfect sence and i feel good i didnt try to cash any checks.....
jonathan brooklyn ny (Sent Oct 8, 2007 5:09:38 PM)
Jonathan, the reason you aren't working is your substandard use of the English language
John Doe (Sent Oct 9, 2007 10:48:51 AM)
To John Doe: Heaven forbid that you ever find yourself in a foreign country and can't speak the native language. Worse, if for any reason, you need to get a job. Tolerance is a virtue. So is understanding. Unkind remarks just put negativity in the air. What's your reason? Really though, who asked you?
(Sent Oct 22, 2007 10:57:38 PM)
To Andy...."Check 21..." Yes i agree with you completely about the 'lag time' not only with banks but such other culprits as EBay. They are all holding monies for prolonged periods of time, which is most cases is not necessary. My question is not so much why, but what financial benefit do these institutions receive from holding the money? If these funds are held, are they held in some form of an interest-bearing account? If so wouldn't the customer be entitled to the interest?
(Sent Oct 26, 2007 2:55:41 PM)
When you cash a check at your bank, you are still responsible for the validity of the check. When you cash a check at your bank, you are cashing it against your account. If that check is returned as counterfeit, the bank will debit the account it was cashed against. It's all in their computer records. If you doubt the validity of a check, the best thing to do is to investigate it BEFORE cashing it or depositing it at your bank. But if you choose to deposit the check into your account, ask the bank to put the check on 'extended float.' This delays availability of the funds in your account for up to 10-14 business days, so in theory the funds will not be available until the check has had time to go through the Fed and reach the bank of origin and then "clear." However, this is not a guarantee that everything will be ok. It could still take longer than 10-14 business days to find out that a check is counterfeit. In that case your account can still be charged. But extended float could help protect your account. Just remember that it is ultimately your own responsibility.
(Sent Nov 29, 2007 4:56:15 PM)
I'm hoping someone have an answer. I have a customer in Canada I am in the US. He is sending me a bank draft with pay to the order of my 'Company' somehow it was lost and someone else finds it and cash the bank draft who is responseable for cashing the bank draft??
Michelle Smith, Van Nuys, CA (Sent Feb 21, 2008 7:36:41 PM)
i am a 20 year old that falled for this fake check. i was minding my own busisness when i recieved this letter in the mail. it was a check for $4,600.00 it was a part time job to be a mysterious shopper. i had 400 dollars from the check as my base pay, two... money grams to do...totaling 4,100.00 i did what i was told and sent the two money grams..couple days later i was left with that negative 4,600 dollars to pay back the bank. it was a fraud. i got the police involved and they are doing investigation. i dont know what to do. i dont have 4600 dollars to pay the bank, im only a college student who works part time at denny's...please help anyone..if u have some thoughts about what to do
Joanie Jean Baptiste, port saint lucie, fl (Sent Mar 14, 2008 11:51:41 AM)
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