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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCheck stolen, washed for thousands of dollars from West Nashville
https://wreg.com/news/mid-south/check-stolen-washed-for-thousands-of-dollars-from-west-nashville/NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A West Nashville man is warning the public after he fell victim to a check-washing scheme.
Mark McPherson says in only a matter of hours his check was stolen from his mailbox and altered for thousands of dollars.
Dont put a check in your mailbox, McPherson stated as a lesson he has since learned.
Snip
They said use a Uniball 207, its a gel pen and they said that ink cant be washed out of a check, said McPherson. ["They" refers to bank personnel.]
More at link.
multigraincracker
(33,036 posts)a regular one on the street.
All important mail goes to the P.O. Box, along with bills I have paid. Been doing that for about 20 years now.
Now Ill get some Uniball 207 pens too.
Thanks.
usonian
(10,461 posts)Except that I discovered those Uniball 207's long ago and buy them by the box.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Grins
(7,396 posts)Uniball pens are a temporary fix.
Zelle is an app developed by the major banks. And its free, easy, and damned fast. And secure.
All money coming to me - direct deposit.
All the money out is automatic payments or Zelle.
In between is a protected credit card.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)usonian
(10,461 posts)https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/11/the-zelle-fraud-scam-how-it-works-how-to-fight-back/
9 Common Zelle Scams to Watch Out For
https://www.rd.com/article/zelle-scams/
Just search Zelle fraud.
I keep two credit cards in case one is hacked.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)I pay over phone or on internet.
BWdem4life
(1,831 posts)Those thieves were lucky to even find an actual check in an unlocked mailbox in the first place.
No Vested Interest
(5,175 posts)often with a pre-printed address on it.
Every day I get charity requests in the mail, with self-addressed and often pre-stamped envelopes.
Seniors - like me- often don't have the apps like Venmo, etc. so broadly used now. If fact, I'm still using - because I prefer it- a flip phone, so I likely am not even able to get these apps.
Many seniors - like me- don't leave their homes very often, so I leave out-going mail in my box, which my postmen pick up. Luckily I know the regular one, so trust the mail will be taken to post office, which it always has been.
No Vested Interest
(5,175 posts)It's happening all of the country; the Postal Service is well aware of this problem.
Mailmen are being robbed of their keys to outside mail drop boxes; thieves then use these at night to get inside the boxes and steal the mail within.
Because I check my balances most days, I discovered the loss and reported it to my local bank the next day. Apparently this is a large-scale operation; my altered check was cashed at a third party bank, which made that bank liable. The theft was in May and the full amount was covered by the third party insurance and returned to me by late August.
Outgoing mail should be taken inside a post office or given directly to the delivery postman.
LeftInTX
(26,357 posts)We only live a few miles from the PO and the lobby is open 24/7.
We have a drop box near our house, but I guess for important stuff, we'll got to the PO.
The drop box outside our PO has no lighting or security. It's black as heck out there.
Grins
(7,396 posts)Interviewed elderly woman robbed of $3K+.
Her bank called her to ask if she actually wrote one of her checks.
She hadnt. Robbed.
Had video of thieves scooping mail out of an USPS outdoor drop box at post office building.
Conclusion:
No checks in the mail unless:
a) You bring check into the Post Office building,
b) Never drop mail into drive-up box after the last collection of the day.
Asked the woman if she would consider sending money via bank-to-bank apps (Zelle is the major banks vehicle. Its free and not Peter Thiels PayPal or Venmo), and she said she avoided things like that but is now considering it. Going to look into it.
Considering? Love! You just got robbed!!
This is a problem I had with my mother years ago and my elderly sisters today - they know two ways to pay for things, a check, or cash. And they hate change.
Duppers
(28,159 posts)It goes inside P.O. Always.
Otherwise, thank goodness for good ole online DiscoverCard.
NJCher
(36,175 posts)Lost patience with it and never went back.
48656c6c6f20
(7,638 posts)LeftInTX
(26,357 posts)A very young cashier looked at me and whispered in my ear, "What's a check?"
Fortunately, I had checks in my purse, so that I could show him!
Grokenstein
(5,739 posts)Thankfully, nothing has come of it, but frankly that's probably because my checking account is usually scraping bottom. I've already learned to avoid outdoor drop boxes and stick to the Post Office indoor drop slot, but I'll be checking out the Uniball 207. Thanks for the tip!
(The renter did begin accepting electronic payments during the pandemic--for a fat fee. No thanks!)
NJCher
(36,175 posts)For $1 per transaction. I researched it when I took over my brothers real estate business for a short time.
Johnny2X2X
(19,742 posts)Probably been over a year.