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Wifes purse was stolen and returned. Question about check book

bbhaag

bbhaag

Diamond Member
So on Saturday night my wifes purse was stolen from a restaurant. A good samaritan found it behind a Walgreens this evening and returned it to her. On Sunday she called Mastercard and reported her cards were stolen and it appears no fraudulent charges have been made.
She had our check book in her purse to which obviously has our account number, routing number, ect on it. Should we close this account just to be safe or does having that info matter?
 
Many years ago when I still used checks someone somehow got the information from a check I wrote, pretty sure it was the lady working the desk at my daughter's daycare because I wrote so few checks even then. They then proceeded to print up their own checks using the cheap "print your own checks" packets you can get from Office Depot and using my drivers license number passed a crapload of checks. Luckily I caught it after just two had gone through simply because the check number was way the hell off. The bank was great about it, had to get a police report and set up a new account but the funds from the two checks were returned by the bank in just a few days.

That was the easy part though. This was well over a decade ago, to this day I can't pass a check at any place that uses whatever verify crap they use because evidently it goes by your DL# and the bitch used mine (why I am almost positive I know who did it), not that I really give a shit because other than my lawn care guy I can't think of the last time I even considered writing a check. If they have the tech to do the verification crap they can take a debit card. With that said, the bitch was able to get away with passing 40ish checks that either hadn't posted yet or the verification shit hadn't shown the account closed yet. The bill collectors from that shit were so much of a pain in the ass that if it wasn't for the principle of it you'd almost pay them just to go the fuck away.I faxed one fuckwit of a company the necessary documents to show it was fraud, complete with police report and all, at least a dozen times and they still kept calling trying to collect on the debt. I finally faxed them all of the fax confirmations along with a letter saying that if they contacted me again or hit my credit report that I would sue the shit out of them. Some years later after that shit settled down I would still occasionally get calls from creditors, I assume that one credit agency sold the debt to another credit agency (yes, they do that).

Trust me bud, opening a new account is so much easier than dealing with even 1/10th of the crap that I did. Hell I'd open a new account just to forget about the entire experience and no, don't leave .10 in the old one because the creditors will still come after you for bounced checks.
 
Cuular said:
You need to leave 1500.00 in it so it becomes a felony to take the money from it.
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Yeah because the cops really focus on some asshole who stole $1,500 out of another assholes account by writing checks they printed at home. That shit goes into the "if the perp comes in and confesses it will get closed" pile. Not to mention if they are smart they will spend smaller amounts in different counties so each police department cares even less. That's what they did to me, $300ish in each parish. Hell I'm not sure if the other places even knew that a crime took place or just the parish that I filed the report?
 
CALL the bank and explain the situation.They can notify you if a check is presented, You have the option to accept the charge or deny it. They should also close the account an open a new one for you.
 
Darwin333 said:
Many years ago when I still used checks someone somehow got the information from a check I wrote, pretty sure it was the lady working the desk at my daughter's daycare because I wrote so few checks even then. They then proceeded to print up their own checks using the cheap "print your own checks" packets you can get from Office Depot and using my drivers license number passed a crapload of checks. Luckily I caught it after just two had gone through simply because the check number was way the hell off. The bank was great about it, had to get a police report and set up a new account but the funds from the two checks were returned by the bank in just a few days.

That was the easy part though. This was well over a decade ago, to this day I can't pass a check at any place that uses whatever verify crap they use because evidently it goes by your DL# and the bitch used mine (why I am almost positive I know who did it), not that I really give a shit because other than my lawn care guy I can't think of the last time I even considered writing a check. If they have the tech to do the verification crap they can take a debit card. With that said, the bitch was able to get away with passing 40ish checks that either hadn't posted yet or the verification shit hadn't shown the account closed yet. The bill collectors from that shit were so much of a pain in the ass that if it wasn't for the principle of it you'd almost pay them just to go the fuck away.I faxed one fuckwit of a company the necessary documents to show it was fraud, complete with police report and all, at least a dozen times and they still kept calling trying to collect on the debt. I finally faxed them all of the fax confirmations along with a letter saying that if they contacted me again or hit my credit report that I would sue the shit out of them. Some years later after that shit settled down I would still occasionally get calls from creditors, I assume that one credit agency sold the debt to another credit agency (yes, they do that).

Trust me bud, opening a new account is so much easier than dealing with even 1/10th of the crap that I did. Hell I'd open a new account just to forget about the entire experience and no, don't leave .10 in the old one because the creditors will still come after you for bounced checks.
Click to expand...

nvm jibber
 
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Darwin333 said:
Many years ago when I still used checks someone somehow got the information from a check I wrote, pretty sure it was the lady working the desk at my daughter's daycare because I wrote so few checks even then. They then proceeded to print up their own checks using the cheap "print your own checks" packets you can get from Office Depot and using my drivers license number passed a crapload of checks. Luckily I caught it after just two had gone through simply because the check number was way the hell off. The bank was great about it, had to get a police report and set up a new account but the funds from the two checks were returned by the bank in just a few days.

That was the easy part though. This was well over a decade ago, to this day I can't pass a check at any place that uses whatever verify crap they use because evidently it goes by your DL# and the bitch used mine (why I am almost positive I know who did it), not that I really give a shit because other than my lawn care guy I can't think of the last time I even considered writing a check. If they have the tech to do the verification crap they can take a debit card. With that said, the bitch was able to get away with passing 40ish checks that either hadn't posted yet or the verification shit hadn't shown the account closed yet. The bill collectors from that shit were so much of a pain in the ass that if it wasn't for the principle of it you'd almost pay them just to go the fuck away.I faxed one fuckwit of a company the necessary documents to show it was fraud, complete with police report and all, at least a dozen times and they still kept calling trying to collect on the debt. I finally faxed them all of the fax confirmations along with a letter saying that if they contacted me again or hit my credit report that I would sue the shit out of them. Some years later after that shit settled down I would still occasionally get calls from creditors, I assume that one credit agency sold the debt to another credit agency (yes, they do that).

Trust me bud, opening a new account is so much easier than dealing with even 1/10th of the crap that I did. Hell I'd open a new account just to forget about the entire experience and no, don't leave .10 in the old one because the creditors will still come after you for bounced checks.
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nvm jibber
 
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Hey thanks for the advice everyone. I was leaning toward the open a new account option anyway but this sealed the deal for me.
 
were any checks missing?

I once had my first checkbook from my first bank account stolen out of my car (unlocked, in the church parking lot). I had only had that bank account for about 2 weeks.

The lady wrote two checks to herself and signed with my name. The bank had video of the idiot cashing them at a bank and copies of the checks. I got my money back and opened an account at another bank (she signed my name with a signature that I would never use--I sign under my nickname. Not my full official name. rather pissed me off that a bank wouldn't verify this first thing, but I guess that isn't all that common)
 
Maybe consider ditching the checking account altogether. I go to the PO for money orders the one or two times per year cash or a debit card doesn't work(usually for the government. Of course... )
 
The reality is that everyone you give a check to has your information if they want to scam you. At least track your account if you don't open a new one. And do not get your checks from the bank. Order them online (costco for me).

And what Darwin said, the cops have better things to do. CC got hacked in Birmingham, called and the officer said contact you bank, click.
 
bbhaag said:
So on Saturday night my wifes purse was stolen from a restaurant. A good samaritan found it behind a Walgreens this evening and returned it to her. On Sunday she called Mastercard and reported her cards were stolen and it appears no fraudulent charges have been made.
She had our check book in her purse to which obviously has our account number, routing number, ect on it. Should we close this account just to be safe or does having that info matter?
Click to expand...

Checks are more vulnerable than credit cards. They transact directly with the bank chain instead of going through the elaborate security systems that MasterCard and Visa have set up. Definitely close the account and change the pins/account numbers.
 
Fritzo said:
Checks are more vulnerable than credit cards. They transact directly with the bank chain instead of going through the elaborate security systems that MasterCard and Visa have set up. Definitely close the account and change the pins/account numbers.
Click to expand...

Checks are retardedly more vulnerable than credit cards. When I was going through the entire ordeal I posted above one of the people I talked to told me about a technique that assholes would use. They'd stand behind you at the Walmart (or wherever) checkout and as you are writing your check they pretend to be on their phone and snap a picture of it. They have all the information they need to print checks for your account from the comfort of their own homes. They even have your drivers license number to help them pass the checks.
 
Darwin333 said:
Checks are retardedly more vulnerable than credit cards. When I was going through the entire ordeal I posted above one of the people I talked to told me about a technique that assholes would use. They'd stand behind you at the Walmart (or wherever) checkout and as you are writing your check they pretend to be on their phone and snap a picture of it. They have all the information they need to print checks for your account from the comfort of their own homes. They even have your drivers license number to help them pass the checks.
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Bad guys are going to do what bad guys do. Heck, our state gave away 4M tax returns a few years back (with bank info if direct deposit :rolleyes😉. Your situation with the DL and the check veri system is a bit different. I'll still send checks and I'll still look at my accounts daily. "Choose your paranoia wisely." 😀
 
highland145 said:
Bad guys are going to do what bad guys do. Heck, our state gave away 4M tax returns a few years back (with bank info if direct deposit :rolleyes😉. Your situation with the DL and the check veri system is a bit different. I'll still send checks and I'll still look at my accounts daily. "Choose your paranoia wisely." 😀
Click to expand...

If you are sending checks to banks or large companies like utilities you probably won't have any issues plus they don't have your DL number. Pretty sure the check veri systems are based on your DL because the bank that I had the checking account from the story doesn't even exist anymore. Maybe I can today, I haven't tried for 5 years or so but I left my debit card at home and had a check in my wallet. Tried to use it at Walmart and they wouldn't take it and yes I had plenty of money in my account.

I'm sure that I could get it fixed, probably wouldn't require much effort, but I don't even write checks to my utilities anymore. I write exactly one check a month to my lawn care guy and that is only because he doesn't accept any form of electronic payment, yet. I am already working on getting him set up with something. My mom OTOH still writes checks like crazy in just about any store that still accepts them.
 
I always found the way the banking system works is odd. It's like flashing around your password around whenever you are handling cheques. Surely they could have come up with a better system that's more secure at the time cheques were invented.
 
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