Bank Question, Check amount changed.

[DawnCt1]

That would make sense if an amount was just entered wrong, but how do you explain the fact that the check itself was altered and signed, doesn't that raise a red flag

The check itself was only altered in that another number was added to it, so there are three entries in total.

 

[DawnCt1]

I wouldn't think it was a skimming scheme, but a mistake.
I used to work in a bank a zillion years ago, and while I'm sure things are done differently now, the basics should be about the same.
Example: The IRS deposits Dawn's check for $37.00 and the IRS shows $37.00 in their account. It clears Dawn's account for $57.00. There is no actual cash that changes hands, just paper. But the numbers between the banks are off by $20.00. The $20.00 is then placed in a holding account until the problem is figured out why (since so many checks clear in a day it's hard to pinpoint the exact problem right away)
It used to be my job at the bank to find those problems sitting in the holding account and reconcile them.
It should be an easy fix.

So you are saying that there is no way for an individual to skim money in this way? You just took half of the fun out of going to the bank this morning.

 

[Acklander]

That would make sense if an amount was just entered wrong, but how do you explain the fact that the check itself was altered and signed, doesn't that raise a red flag

Who knows why it was written in. I remember there was this one business (I think it was the gas company) and they had a couple of different people who processed the payments. They used to pencil in the amount they processed it for and their initial on the front of the checks, but that was done for internal processing not for banking purposes.

 

[Acklander]

So you are saying that there is no way for an individual to skim money in this way? You just took half of the fun out of going to the bank this morning.

Well, sure... there's always ways to skim money, but it usually doesn't include signed notes on the check

 

[luvmy3]

If it was fraud why would anyone sign it?

HAve you ever seen the show wrold's dumbest criminals? I don't know what any criminal does what they do, and I'm not saying this IS fraud but it definitely needs to be brought to the attention of someone at the bank. They can either explain the policy to Dawn, or they can be made aware of any problems within.

The check itself was only altered in that another number was added to it, so there are three entries in total.

I have never worked in a bank but I have processed state child support payments and we were never allowed to alter a check. If there was a discrepansy with what we deposited and what the total checks were, we needed to track down the mistake and re-do the deposit. Its been years, I can't remember the procedure, but we couldn't just change a check at whim, and if we were confused by the amount we had to make our best guess at what was written out, however that did not mean we ourselves could write on that check and initial it.
In your case since the writing is legible and the check is clearly altered by someone other than your dh or yourself, I'd be suspicious, thats all I'm saying.

 

[PinkRhombus]

So you are saying that there is no way for an individual to skim money in this way? You just took half of the fun out of going to the bank this morning.

You still need to bring this up. $20 is $20.

 

[DawnCt1]

If it was fraud why would anyone sign it?

Well, sure... there's always ways to skim money, but it usually doesn't include signed notes on the check

Maybe "Bill" was trying to frame Lashanda.

You still need to bring this up. $20 is $20.

You betcha! It may be only $20 but it is MY $20!

 

[happygirl]

Dawn, did you try to call the IRS? I'm just wondering what they said

 

[Acklander]

Dawn, did you try to call the IRS? I'm just wondering what they said

LOL - it would probably be quicker to just go to your bank, they'll put the $20.00 in and take it from there.

 

[happygirl]

LOL - it would probably be quicker to just go to your bank, they'll put the $20.00 in and take it from there.

It might be quicker but I still would want to know what they said.

 

[agnes!]

If it was fraud why would anyone sign it?

Because criminals are sometimes stoopid?

agnes!

 

[RachelTori]

It might be quicker but I still would want to know what they said.

ITA!! If someone alters my check and takes more of my money, I'd sure want to know WHY?

 

[daughtersrus]

Was the check even cashed by the IRS or Lashanda?

I've read many times where people will intercept the tax return and change the IRS to MRS and cash the check themselves. If this is the case, the IRS didn't get any money and Lashanda got it all.

What does it say on the back of the check?

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn, did you try to call the IRS? I'm just wondering what they said

I think I would be more willing to give the IRS my $20 rather than talk to them. I went to the bank. The US Treasury deposited the check. I could have told her that and they are sending it to where they make adjustments. Her answer? Its a mistake, it happens all the time.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I think I would be more willing to give the IRS my $20 rather than talk to them. I went to the bank. The US Treasury deposited the check. I could have told her that and they are sending it to where they make adjustments. Her answer? Its a mistake, it happens all the time.

This makes no sense. Yes mistakes happen but someone purposely writing a different amount on your check shouldn't happen "all the time". How odd!! Good luck clearing this up.

 

[happygirl]

This makes no sense. Yes mistakes happen but someone purposely writing a different amount on your check shouldn't happen "all the time". How odd!! Good luck clearing this up.

Changing the amount on a check isn't a mistake.

 

[luvmy3]

I think I would be more willing to give the IRS my $20 rather than talk to them. I went to the bank. The US Treasury deposited the check. I could have told her that and they are sending it to where they make adjustments. Her answer? Its a mistake, it happens all the time.

Isn't that comforting. Things like this make me look at my mattress in a whole new way

 

[manning]

I think I would be more willing to give the IRS my $20 rather than talk to them. I went to the bank. The US Treasury deposited the check. I could have told her that and they are sending it to where they make adjustments. Her answer? Its a mistake, it happens all the time.

If that is all she did my response would have been "hiring you was a mistake, where's the manager."

 

[sbell111]

It was reported to the bank. They're going to fix it. Nothing to see here.

 

[happygirl]

I'm glad the bank is taking care of it for Dawn. If I had a teller telling me it was just a mistake that someone changed my check and it happens all the time. I would have closed the account on the spot. Sorry, I don't want a bank that thinks that is okay.

I would also be calling the IRS and letting them know that my check had been changed and see what theya re going to do about it