Someone’s been writing coutertfeit personal checks on my account.
I’ve talked to my bank and put the fraud alert out with the three credit bureaus.
Since some of these fake checks were processed by the banking system, I’m curious as to the magnetic ink account number and check number that every check has. The 60’s style computer font on the bottom of every check that I thought contained something like “magentic ink”, or at least until a few years ago they did.
Do modern check processing systems optically can these numbers? Is a personal check something that someone can just fake with a good printer or is the magnectic ink still used? If banking systems still read magnetic ink, these guys are pretty skilled in their shit.
I need to know whether real checks were stolen from the mail or somebody just faked my checks on his printer.
What’s scary is that these returned bogus checks all have a state driver’s license number that ain’t mine. That has been faked too.
God knows what the hell else this guy has been up to.
I’m sorry if I missed a link to the same problem; but my mother just passed away and I was just at the service for her.
But I was amazed by the number other people at the service that had been victims of ID theft too. I was running out of fingers to count people who have experienced this.
This seems like the 21st century version of mugging.
Yes, banks still use magnetic ink for the MICR encoding on checks, but some banks will enter the information in by hand if they get a few checks without the magnetic ink (if they get quite a few checks from one account without magnetic ink, they will usually complain to the account holder, especially if the account holder doesn’t order their checks through the bank). Also, I’m fairly that there are ways for someone to print the MICR encoding with the magnetic ink on blank check stock.
In addition, not all places that print checks confirm information with the bank. Someone could have gotten hold of one of your checks (or even a copy of one), or gotten a bank spec sheet and your account number, and had a batch of checks printed up. This is more likely if (a) the checks also had an incorrect address on it–many, but not all, check printers will only ship to the address on the checks–and/or (b) if the checks were written for large amounts–if the forger actually paid for the checks, he/she would want to recoup the expense.
Does your bank give out generic cheques when you open a new account (before the personalized ones come in)? If you can just write in the account number on the bottom, then could anyone who knows a valid account number use them?
Ask to see the cancelled cheques. I don’t think they will volunteer the information as it is now an internal investigation. I would say that you have a valid reason to know the details and results of the investigation.
Kat got the MICR answer right, and there are ways to print checks MICR from a PC. PC printed checks are not as high quality as commercially printed checks, but they will work.
From the information you give I’m not convinced it’s identity theft. It could be simple check theft/forgery.
I assume this means you have seen at least some of these checks. If so, I have these questions:
-Are the checks made out to the thief and he is using the DL to identify himself as the payee; or
-Is the thief forging your signature AND identifying himself as you?
-Why were the bogus checks returned - NSF? Refer to Maker? Forged signature?
If it is identity theft, go to http://www.privacyrights.org for step-by-step instructions on how to best protect yourself during and after the police investigation.
I saw JPEGS of the checks at the bank and they printed some scans out for me. The first was at a jewelry store and I figured they might have video of the guy. No such luck–the store doesn’t have video but the clerk remembers the guy because the birthdate on the driver’s license is several years younger than mine; she verified the check (I had funds to cover this, being one of the first checks) but thought it strange that the guy would have been 12 years old when he opened the account (with no co-signer).
The guy seemed to be hitting up stores at malls, where presumably he can hit a lot of stores in the least amount of time. I haven’t seen one yet made out to “myself”, but I’ve only seen some from the first 3 days; they all have been to stores in several hundred dollar amounts.
He’s showing a counterfeit DL with his photo and my info, but the soundex number is bogus and it wasn’t issued by the DMV.
The checks are being returned due to NSF. I don’t keep a lot of $ in my checking account. And the signature is an obvious forgery. The jewelry store accepted the personal check with a 800 home phone number; they could have caught this the first day, maybe, but I guess they work on commission.
What sucks is that the police haven’t contacted the stores quickly enough. I got a call today by one of the stores and they actually helped the guy load up his car with merchandise (that he “bought” over a week ago) today. If they had known, they could have written down the plate number or called the cops.
I was worried that the guy would go into Hecht’s or Macy’s or someplace were they give instant credit and go to town, but my credit report shows no new accounts.
Small consolation as I fly out to the Midwest for a hometown memorial service for my mother.
hardy, I don’t know about that. What if I give out my mother’s name as gs90jjio32ede3 when inquiring about my account over the phone? What would they think?
I was the victim of identity fraud last year. It sucks. But since I’ve been drinking tonight, I wont go into any details. I’ll probable post tomorroe on the subject.
To be honest, the average call center representative wouldn’t blink an eye at that. You have to remember, we take on average 100+ calls a day. We’ve seen and heard it all.
Just call the bank and request that the mmn be changed to a password. Most banks will transfer you to the security department, where they will verify additional information and do the update.
[sub]And if you’re lucky, you may talk to me.[/sub]
The good news is that this doesn’t appear to be “identity theft” - yet. For definition purposes, identity theft usually involves more than stolen checks and a fake ID with your information, it also includes theft of your SSN and attempts to open accounts (banking, credit, services, etc.) in your name. Your situation seems more like the perp is satisfied with the joyride on your existing checking account.
DO THIS NOW! File a report with your local police and file a fraud affadavit with your bank for each forged check. Keep a copy of the affadavits and police reports with you at all times. “NSF” or “Account Closed” stamps really piss off merchants. If they take legal action you will have to prove that you did not write the checks. The reports and affadavits could be a life saver if a merchant swears out a warrant on you. Have your bank begin stamping all future returned checks “Refer to Maker” or “Account Closed Due to Fraud”. This gives you some measure of protection.
The really crappy part is now you will have a NSF history with the merchants that this Bozo wrote checks to. So now if you go to your local Wal-mart and try to buy something, it may be that you are red-flagged in their system and they will not accept your checks anymore. You can be made whole financially but what a HUGE pain in the ass. Your bank may be able to help you correct the record with “Chexsystems” the equivalent of the credit bureau but for checking accounts. However many merchants keep their own data base or use third party vendors to do the collections for them.
What’s scary about the US and Uk governments’ sudden enthusiasm for ID cards is that these would make identity theft even easier.
Once the thief either has your ID card, or a faked copy, they would, as far as any official or organisation is concerned, effectively be you. It worries me that we could all end up the position that the ID card itself has more rights and proof of identity than the person who rightfully owns it.
Sorry if this is straying from the thread. But it seemed relevant.