Some people came by our mobile home Tuesday and offered to fix holes in our roof (we’ve had some rain lately). They wanted a fairly large sum of money–in cash. My Mom made a check out to me, and I went to cash it at the bank (these people didn’t want a paper trail, to avoid taxes on the amount). However, before I put the check in my wallet one of them asked what the check number was, and apparently got it (after that I kept the check myself until I gave it to the teller). I just want to know: Can information like a check number be used for any further efforts to get someone else’s money dishonestly? 
The check number by itself no, BUT if they have your checking account number they can do all kinds of fraud up to and including forging checks on your account.
BTW approaching homeowners offering to do repairs is a classic scam, real contractors generally have better things to do with their time. BEWARE!
I’ve always wondered why people would give money to folks who admit they are cheating the government. And after they’re always complaining, “I knew they were cheating all of us, I never figured they’d cheat me individually.”
A good piece of advice is to get rid of any tradesman who admits to being a thief.
And besides avoiding taxes, without something tangible like a cancelled check made out to the repairmen, the homeowner has little proof of the amount paid or any payment being made at all, not to mention being unable to put a stop-payment on the check if something is discovered to be wrong very soon after the repairs are done.
Can you not contact a reputable local company?
Seriously, crooks make a living turning up at your door, asking for payment in cash then not doing the work (or even worse, doing the work badly):
- Maryland Attorney General warning:
Beware of roving con artists. These scam artists knock on people’s doors and offer to do work such as roofing, gutter cleaning, driveway paving or tree pruning. They sometimes appear in the aftermath of hailstorms or tornados, offering to repair storm damage.
http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/edge111.htm
- Legal Aid, Western Missouri
Dishonest companies only want to take your money, not repair your home. Many of these companies target older and low-income people. A home improvement scam could start with a telephone call or someone knocking at your door offering to “help” you with home repairs.
http://www.lawmo.org/law_hou.htm
- Cook County
The Cooke County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a string of scams that have been plaguing the community. Sheriff Mike Compton says when it comes to getting what they want, these thieves will do just about anything.
“They pick targets they can take advantage of and that would aggravate anybody with any sense of decency,” said Cooke County Sherifff Mike Compton.
For the last seven months a group of scam artists have been going door to door, primarily in the northeast part of Cooke County, targeting the elderly and trying to convince them that they need repair work done on their property. Sheriff Mike Compton says they can be real smooth talkers.
http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/Scam_alert_139400973.html
and so on (‘home repair scam’ returns over 102 million results on Google.)
There is no “potential” in this…they are scammers. They are probably not even going to show up. If they DO show up, they will want more money, and they’ll need to come into the house. They already know that someone in the household is way too trusting, and they will look for opportunities to get more money or steal goods.
Never, ever hire someone who comes up to your door and solicits your business. The best outcome is that you pay money and you don’t get any work done. Yes, I said that’s the BEST outcome. It’s fair more likely that they’ll steal from you in some way.
Wait, I missed it - is this money paid up front for work yet to be done? :eek: I assumed this was payment after the fact and they’re going to figure out the first time it rains that the repair wasn’t worth a thing.
Right. OP, if you have not yet handed over the cash, take it back to the bank and tell the scammers you have changed your mind. Otherwise, cal the police now.
To the OP
Let me know your address. I have an anti-scammer box I can put on your property to avoid these shenanigans. Because of FTC difficulties and a certain Patent Officer, I will need cash in full before the install.
He’s kidding.
No one can do anything with a check number, it’s the account number you have to watch out for.
Do not ever give money to people who show up out of the blue and offer to fix your roof, redo your driveway, whatever. They are con artists. There is a movie by the name of Traveller that is a great example of their con job.
I figured that. 
This is a joke… right? You did actually not do this? This is such a classic scam it was originally taught in Latin.
It is older than that. The Bushman *! originally invented language so he could warn his neighbors !! and !!! about this scam.
I was rereading the thread and I saw this:
I wonder if the con-artist/repairman claimed to look at the check number but really memorized the account number. You don’t need to memorize the ABA/Routing number because with the bank name you can just look it up online.
So, dougie_monty, what happened?
So far, nothing. But the security office of the supermarket involved was closed for the Monday holiday; I’ll call them in the morning. My Mom (age 82) is a member of AARP; we may contact them for advice. The lawyer I prepare dopcuments for was not optimistic.
Well, did you give them the money? Did they do the work? Or is what your worried about is your bank number?
How is supermarket security involved in a home repair scam?