Well…I certainly fucked that one up. You know what I mean.
The routing number is on the check, as well. It is the number between the colons.
When your girlfriend gave her ex her PIN (which she should not have done in the first place, but I digress), when he called in to wire money out, the PIN should have been recognized by the wireroom operator (the account is titled “Suzie Jones” and “Steven Reilley” is initiating it, he would have a different PIN than her, if he has debit authority) as being compromised. The operator should have confiscated the PIN (making it worthless to anyone, and Suzie would have to fill out paperwork all over again for a new PIN) and the wire cancelled. The bank had put funds at risk in your case, and could face fines and compensation costs. Boyfriend also commited wire fraud and could have faced jail time.
(Checks also have the routing number on them, not just the account number)
I agree that this is something that you give to people all the time without thinking about it. I also agree with those that said that this sounds suspicious; I wouldn’t do it and would either make the guy mail a money order (not a check) or Western Union you some money.
And as far as “it’s info on every check you write”; that’s very true. But it’s also enough info for someone to use your checking account on any website that accepts checking account information for payment. First Name, Last Name, Routing Number, Account Number and any bogus check number they want to make up out of their head, and they’re… gellin like Magellan; in like Flynn, that kind of thing.
So I’d be wary.
Not quite understanding this. If she authorized him to withdraw $200 and he took $6000 then he took $5800 without authorization. How is this any different than if she’d written him a $200 check and he’d altered it?