A check for small amount was sent by mail for graduation gift. Recently it was cashed with name and amount altered (chemically, liquid paper, crossed out - hard to tell on digital copy of check) to a 4 digit sum which cleared. Alerted our bank - Chase. They are saying 60-90 days to investigate. Fortunately it appears it was Bank of America that cashed the check with the huge amount and altered name. They did not change our signature on check - didn't have to, probably helped them cash it. It was endorsed on back by a name we don't recognize and can barely read.
1) what do we need to cancel and change - all bank accounts?
2) plan on reporting to FTC
3) reporting to police in the morning - what do we need to know
4) already have alerts on bank accounts for any activity
5) what else should we do with bank? police?
6) likelihood of getting stolen funds back? since Bank of America cashed are they liable?

This happened to my mom a couple of years ago. She mailed a check and someone took it. They changed the check to the exact amount she had in the account (not sure how they got that). When looking at the check image it was very obvious it was rewritten. She had no problem getting Wells Fargo to refund the amount of the check; however, she had a hell of a time getting them to refund all the overdraft charges from other checks/payments she had made that hadn't cleared yet.

Big Al 1992 said:

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Thanks for responses. Wheels of Justice are in motion.

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Because we've had so many fraud attempts, we now have a safety feature set up on all our corporate accounts now. It's a pain, but it helps.

I cant remember what it's called ('positive pay' or something like that). But you have to log in, and enter the check numbers and amounts for any authorized payments. In other words, every time we write/issue a check, we record it online and 'allow' it. If it's not on the list, it gets flagged and denied. We've also set this up for any ACH/Wires as well.

We've forgotten to authorize payments a couple times, but that's a minor inconvenience compared to having massive amounts of money attempted to be stolen, and subsequently put on hold by the bank.

Their solution was always to close accounts, and re-open new ones. But that is a massive headache for corporate accounts.

Might ask your bank about the security feature.

Sorry to be Debbie Downer but the police will most likely do nothing. My ex-wife was mugged in open daylight and the guy used our cards at gas stations and retail stores. We even had witnesses and video.

Nothing was done. And this was almost 20 years ago when the police weren't as worthless as they are now. It took me six months to get my money back from bank.

I'm sorry about your wife but agree. My ID was stolen in 2020 and I have proof of Treniqua and LaToya and their b1****s and the addresses where they live. They all have rap sheets for similar things. I have spent countless hours cleaning up my credit bureau file.

Harris County was worthless.


Regarding the check, look to friends of the intended recipient. I have a friend who was letting her grandson use one of her credit cards. One of his friends stole the card and went on a shopping spree, one of which was at Academy for a right handed baseball glove. They immediately knew who it was.

YouBet said:

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Sorry to be Debbie Downer but the police will most likely do nothing. My ex-wife was mugged in open daylight and the guy used our cards at gas stations and retail stores. We even had witnesses and video.

Nothing was done. And this was almost 20 years ago when the police weren't as worthless as they are now. It took me six months to get my money back from bank.

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CORRECT. Police will do nothing. But you still need to go through the process. It's a CYA and is helpful with the bank and any financial audit you undergo. All you need is a case number.

Murder.

Bank Transfer

Symbolic check