identity theft warning - Beyond Tiki

S stuff-o-rama Tiki Socialite Central Coast of California Joined: Nov 20, 2003 Posts: 757	S stuff-o-rama Posted posted on Sat, Jan 28, 2006 5:44 PM On 2006-01-28 08:52, Jungle Trader wrote: You can buy special ink pens that prevent check washing. Thanks for the reminder about those pens. I do use them and will continue to do so. But in my case they took the routing number of the bank and my account number and made their own checks... that's what really scared the crapola out of me. The banks use a new system in which businesses can scan a check and do an electronic withdrawal so they don't have to deal with the paper trail/transfer. It is up to the individual accepting the check to catch the fraud or counterfeit check in this process. Jab, I don't know what I would've done if my bank didn't come through. They originally told me they had to hold the funds for 10 days while under investigation, but the head bank manager is a customer of mine and she pulled rank for me. Otherwise I would've really been screwed. I agree with Wells Fargo being evil, I also learned the hard way with them a few years ago. I now only bank locally. I think a quick call to the District Attorneys Office might light a fire under them. San Luis Obispo's District Attorney's Office has a special department for bad checks and credit card fraud, I would think such a thing exists in the Bay Area as well. In the horrible event this happens to anyone, here is a resource guide. Most states have made it possible for you to view your credit report for free annually. The Federal Trade Commission has a web site link that you can obtain copies from the 3 credit companies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. It is recommended that you review your credit report for inaccuracies and unauthorized activity. You will not be able to see your "credit score" without paying extra, but you can see what accounts are opened in your name. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/ycr_free_reports.htm If there is questionable activity, you can put a fraud alert on your credit reports for no charge for 3 months. They will also try to get you to buy a paid service in which you can review it monthly to watch for fraud. here is the link to the legal rights for identity theft victims (downloadable pdf file) http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtsummary.pdf

On 2006-01-28 08:52, Jungle Trader wrote:
You can buy special ink pens that prevent check washing.

Thanks for the reminder about those pens. I do use them and will continue to do so. But in my case they took the routing number of the bank and my account number and made their own checks... that's what really scared the crapola out of me. The banks use a new system in which businesses can scan a check and do an electronic withdrawal so they don't have to deal with the paper trail/transfer. It is up to the individual accepting the check to catch the fraud or counterfeit check in this process.

Jab, I don't know what I would've done if my bank didn't come through. They originally told me they had to hold the funds for 10 days while under investigation, but the head bank manager is a customer of mine and she pulled rank for me. Otherwise I would've really been screwed. I agree with Wells Fargo being evil, I also learned the hard way with them a few years ago. I now only bank locally. I think a quick call to the District Attorneys Office might light a fire under them. San Luis Obispo's District Attorney's Office has a special department for bad checks and credit card fraud, I would think such a thing exists in the Bay Area as well.

In the horrible event this happens to anyone, here is a resource guide.

Most states have made it possible for you to view your credit report for free annually. The Federal Trade Commission has a web site link that you can obtain copies from the 3 credit companies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. It is recommended that you review your credit report for inaccuracies and unauthorized activity. You will not be able to see your "credit score" without paying extra, but you can see what accounts are opened in your name.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/ycr_free_reports.htm

If there is questionable activity, you can put a fraud alert on your credit reports for no charge for 3 months. They will also try to get you to buy a paid service in which you can review it monthly to watch for fraud.

here is the link to the legal rights for identity theft victims (downloadable pdf file)

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtsummary.pdf

Post #211154 by stuff-o-rama on Sat, Jan 28, 2006 5:44 PM