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Bad Bank Check-Fraud- What's Next?-Update!

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    When you are done making all your calls tomorrow, make a call to the Texas Board of Accountancy. The firm Harrison & Young and Russell Harrison are not listed as CPA's in the state of Texas. I am too lazy to look at the rules in Texas but some states take a matter of someone or a firm impersonating a CPA very seriously.
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    tmot99tmot99 Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭
    I was hoping ot hear an update by now. What'd ya' find out, Tom?
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    Tom,

    Any update? I hope they catch these people and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

    Matt Allman
    Matt Allman
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    ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,669 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Any update? I hope they catch these people and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. >>

    I was hoping to hear about postal inspectors leading this guy out of the building in cuffs as he checked his box to pick up the coin.

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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Any update? I hope they catch these people and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. >>

    I was hoping to hear about postal inspectors leading this guy out of the building in cuffs as he checked his box to pick up the coin. >>



    You never know who is reading these threads. I will have more to report soon though, if not regarding this specific check/scam, certainly on the others.



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    57loaded57loaded Posts: 4,967 ✭✭✭


    << <i>We'll be scanning these checks and posting them.

    1 from a Russel Harrison ( we shipped this guy today via express mail. Does anyone know how to stop an express mail? ) I shipped the coin to Houston Texas earlier today. If anyone knows the all night distribution telephone numbers there would you please let me know what it is?

    Dang it all. My bank didn't even call me. Got this in the mail today and have been charged back. I'll be posting pictures of the coins if we cannot intercept the package.

    image >>



    sorry if this has been asked but I have never seen a "legal" COPY of a cashier's check. Is there such a thing?
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    57loaded57loaded Posts: 4,967 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I have always been under the belief that a bank can return a check for up to a year after they first accept it and then they just reverse your deposit. I never thought this was right but if you figure the possibility that the check may have been stolen it could happen.

    Thank goodness you were able to head them off at the pass and will get the coin returned.

    image


    Larry
    Dabigkahuna >>



    a cashier's check, no. the money goes from your account into the trust account at the bank.

    if there is fraud a bank can return a check up to a year but not a cashier's check.
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Recap of some of the more interesting "transactions" of the last 2 weeks.

    1st one came from a Russel Harrison

    Russel Harrison
    Harrison and Young
    3505 South Dairy Ashford St
    Houston, Tx 77082


    This guy sent the bogus bank check.

    Check is shown on the first page when I started this thread.


    Around the same time I received a telephone call from a “Michael Reid”. He sent this check
    image



    This was returned as unauthorized signature. This “person” is so arrogant he/she (Are you Michael, Michelle, Sally Mae, Willy in real life? )Sent another check which came in to day.

    image

    In a minute I’ll tell you all what became of this check.

    In between the first order and the third order we have this third fellow who EXPRESS mailed me the following check

    image

    I took all these checks to Bank of America and guess what? They did NOT know what to do! Looked me right in the eye and said “Mr Pilitowski, what is it you would like Bank of America to do about these “?

    First she said, they do not show as actual accounts. Then said she would need to know what state these checks are issued from in order to look up the account to see if it’s real. Then looked at the bogus check and saw that it said “Bank of America, Miami Fl” and said “Well it MUST be a Florida check and account but I cannot find it in the computer”!!! Then said, there’s no way for them to check the signature and so they could not tell me if these checks are bad or not!

    I am sorry folks but I’ve been in business a long time and I find this all truly pathetic.

    I cannot tell you "yet" what the status is of my 1850 and 55-S Double Eagles except to tell you that I hope this doesn't go on much longer.
    image
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    I am also thinking of posting the names and addresses of the mail drops these dirtbags use. I DID send a fax to the first one and have not even received a reply from them.
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    LALASD4LALASD4 Posts: 3,602 ✭✭✭
    I took a B of A Cashier's check to a B of A one time and the teller said the only way to check it is to call some department, ask the bank manger to make a call. And that does not look right to be a B of A Cashier's check.
    Coin Collector, Chicken Owner, Licensed Tax Preparer & Insurance Broker/Agent.
    San Diego, CA


    image
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I took a B of A Cashier's check to a B of A one time and the teller said the only way to check it is to call some department, ask the bank manger to make a call. And that does not look right to be a B of A Cashier's check. >>



    I know it's not a cashiers check. Never said it was. The Bank of America Woman had no clue and then laughed, saying that some people come to the tellers window and try to cash these kinds of checks using fake ID. Duh. The first check in the beginning of the thread is a cashiers check...er a fraudulent one. These three are all bogus checks and looks like they are part of the "ring" of lowlifes that are targeting coin people.
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    LALASD4LALASD4 Posts: 3,602 ✭✭✭
    It does not even have the right Routing Number for a B of A personal check.

    And no addresses for the bank branch or account holders?
    Coin Collector, Chicken Owner, Licensed Tax Preparer & Insurance Broker/Agent.
    San Diego, CA


    image
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    ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,669 ✭✭✭
    What really sucks is that banks seem to prefer factoring this into their cost of doing business -- which we all ultimately pay for -- instead of taking an active interest in investigating and prosecuting. It's sort of like insurance companies settling with obvious scam artists because it's cheaper for them to pay out a few grand than fight for what's right.

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    RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I took a B of A Cashier's check to a B of A one time and the teller said the only way to check it is to call some department, ask the bank manger to make a call. >>



    I bank with BofA and have never had any trouble verifying any check drawn from them, whether it be personal, business, or cashier's. The teller just punches it in to the computer system.

    Russ, NCNE
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    BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,632 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Looked me right in the eye and said “Mr Pilitowski, what is it you would like Bank of America to do about these “? >>



    What is it that you expected them to do? Did you politely explain that you thought they were bogus and expect a common teller to give you an answer in 15 seconds from a computer screen.
    theknowitalltroll;
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    cohocorpcohocorp Posts: 1,371 ✭✭
    tom--
    i hope everything works out for you.
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    RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>What really sucks is that banks seem to prefer factoring this into their cost of doing business -- which we all ultimately pay for -- instead of taking an active interest in investigating and prosecuting. >>



    Yep, credit card issuers have the same attitude. I used to try and report all the fraud attempts I get through my regular business site, but Visa and Mastercard didn't give a crap. Now I don't even bother.

    Russ, NCNE
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    LALASD4LALASD4 Posts: 3,602 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I took a B of A Cashier's check to a B of A one time and the teller said the only way to check it is to call some department, ask the bank manger to make a call. >>



    I bank with BofA and have never had any trouble verifying any check drawn from them, whether it be personal, business, or cashier's. The teller just punches it in to the computer system.

    Russ, NCNE >>



    I guess like the Post Office every branch is different.image
    Coin Collector, Chicken Owner, Licensed Tax Preparer & Insurance Broker/Agent.
    San Diego, CA


    image
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    BochimanBochiman Posts: 25,790 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>You can prevent some of this stuff in the future by checking the following sources - >>



    Or, he could have called The Bank of New York at 212.495.1784. I lookup and call on every cashier's check I receive.

    Russ, NCNE >>



    I was scrolling through this thread and waiting for this piece of info. Thanks Russ. As an ex-banker, another question we would ask on this is "Why is someone in Houston banking with someone in DE?" Usually, a firm/individual like this will work with a bank that they have a personal relationship or at last an ATM somewhere in town. My guess is that BofNY has no regional offices in Houston and I would also guess that this accounting firm is not nationwide. >>



    That's the first thing I keyed on as well......most businesses/people regionally bank unless there is a very good reason not to (just moved, military, etc).
    Also glad that Tom is getting his package back....but, I do have to wonder, as someone already posted.....why blame the carrier and say you are switching back to Fedex? I could care less as it doesn't affect me but it does make me wonder if that was something said/thought under stress or some rationale I just don't understand.

    From where I sit, it looks like the USPS helped recover the package by being contacted and shipping it back.....they did nothing wrong and everything to help....

    I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment

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    LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
    I hope this works out for you, Tom.
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Looked me right in the eye and said “Mr Pilitowski, what is it you would like Bank of America to do about these “? >>



    What is it that you expected them to do? Did you politely explain that you thought they were bogus and expect a common teller to give you an answer in 15 seconds from a computer screen. >>



    It would have been nice if the MANAGER who this person was, could have told me whether or not the checks were bogus or not after I showed her the first one that was returned.
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Bochiman, the only complaint I have with the postal service is the difficulty in tracking an express mail and intercepting it. It was hours and a guess before we had any idea that we were even on the right track whereas with Fedex it would have been taken care of within minutes.
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    wayneherndonwayneherndon Posts: 2,357 ✭✭✭
    Tom, would you post the ship to address for the orders paid with the bogus BOA checks? I will like to make note of it in case I come across one of these.

    WH
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Tom, would you post the ship to address for the orders paid with the bogus BOA checks? I will like to make note of it in case I come across one of these.

    WH >>



    Absolutely. I'm gathering those together and will do so shortly.
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Bogus Bank Check “Person”

    russell harrison
    3505 dairy ashford st
    houston, tx 77082
    713 559 0925


    Un-authorized signature Check(s)
    “Michael Reid”
    1818 N. Taylor St.
    # 239
    Little Rock, Arkansas 72207

    ( check actually came in postmarked Little Rock )


    Check express mailed from
    Pakmail Tarrytown
    3112 A Windsor Rd
    Austin Tx 78703

    But it said to send the coins to

    Julian Garcia
    941 25th Ave
    #221
    Coralville, IA 52241

    Interesting but the newest check from “Michael Reid” came in the identical envelope that was inside the express mail from Pakmail Tarrytown ( Julian Garcia)
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    RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    Sounds like an organized ring crossing state lines. If so, maybe the Feds would be interested in pursuing it under RICO.

    Russ, NCNE
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    wayneherndonwayneherndon Posts: 2,357 ✭✭✭
    The IA address is a UPS store that also offers mail box rentals.

    So is the AR address.

    WH
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    BochimanBochiman Posts: 25,790 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I wonder how many people they have suckered who aren't members here?
    Seems like this place, and the information exchange, has been a good thing for a few dealers in this specific area......

    I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment

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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The IA address is a UPS store that also offers mail box rentals.

    So is the AR address.

    WH >>



    So are both texas addresses too and I sent a fax to the one texas address that I shipped to and they have not even replied.
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    Dave99BDave99B Posts: 8,920 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I took all these checks to Bank of America and guess what? They did NOT know what to do! Looked me right in the eye and said “Mr Pilitowski, what is it you would like Bank of America to do about these “?

    BOA is beyond pathetic. Drop what you are doing and run out and get a new bank, immediately!

    Many thanks for the heads-up, and I really hope everything work out for you.

    Dave
    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
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    BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,632 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I took all these checks to Bank of America and guess what? They did NOT know what to do! Looked me right in the eye and said “Mr Pilitowski, what is it you would like Bank of America to do about these “? >>



    I would hope they wouldn't be expected to make good on them, but it is reasonable to expect that a person of authority at a B of A facility in one state should be able to verify the account number and identity of the account owner at the same facility in another state. Were the check blanks stolen from a B of A facility or are they just very good forgeries? Since the check was returned did you perchance ask how they knew it was bogus then?



    << <i>What really gets me is that my bank doesn't even call to advise of a fraudulent check. That I had to get it in the mail. >>



    If the "MANAGER" at your bank couldn't determine if the check/s were bogus then who in their system did since the checks were returned to you and I'm assuming that you are/were a B of A customer depositing a check from another B of A customer.
    theknowitalltroll;
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I wonder how many people they have suckered who aren't members here?
    . >>



    Laura Kessler told me that this sounds like a "person" who has been operating from California to Texas and he sends 20 or more bad checks to people who advertise in coin world. Think about that one for a moment. It's exciting to get orders from an ad placed in coin world just like it is from an ebay store etc. These checks come in with no telephone number. How many sellers and dealers get clipped by this lowlife ? I NEVER got a bad check in all these years and suddenly I'm targeted by this slime. Certainly if someone "placed an order" for what I typically sell and didn't call me, it would be suspect as heck. No phone attached? Ha! Never happen. But this guy ( gal? ) ordered fairly inexpensive material, a couple of type 1 double eagles, a couple of morgan dollars, a generic st g. Nothing that raises much suspicion.

    And now I get a follow up this morning that the package is back at my po box. So it looks like they did intercept it, and return it. I'll go in a little while and pick it up. I assume there's no investigation whatsoever. So what's the risk for this thief?

    Dang

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    BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,632 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well at least some good news out of it.
    theknowitalltroll;
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    RBinTexRBinTex Posts: 4,328
    Good result (and lesson learned). image
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    BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    he sends 20 or more bad checks to people who advertise in coin world.

    The only positive spin to this story is thinking that some of the full-page advertisers of CW are getting a taste of their own medicine.
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    What really is stunning is the lack of interest on the part of law enforcement, whether it's the locals, federales, or postal inspectors. It seems that this would have been so easy to put a stop to. Although maybe the fact that the Loan Officer and Personal Banker ( right from her business card) at Bank of America in Charlotte Harbor on Harborview Road not having any clue as to even telling the difference between a good check or a bad check is more shocking?


    I picked up the coins by the way.
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    tjkilliantjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭
    Excellent! I'm glad you were able to get back your coins. It is troubling that law enforcement does not care about real thieves.
    Tom

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    ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,669 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Excellent! I'm glad you were able to get back your coins. It is troubling that law enforcement does not care about real thieves. >>

    And some people wonder why it's becoming so rampant. It would have so easy to bust someone for this, most likely, if anyone in law enforcement or the banking industry gave a damn. For law enforcement, it's too small (per incident) to be seriously bothered, and for the banks, it's just a cost to be passed on to other customers.
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    fcfc Posts: 12,805 ✭✭✭
    sorry, cops rub me the wrong way. post edited!

    i am happy for you mryearly and disappointed in banks, cops, and the mail system.
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    image
    Ilikacoinsawholebuncha
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Excellent! I'm glad you were able to get back your coins. It is troubling that law enforcement does not care about real thieves. >>

    And some people wonder why it's becoming so rampant. It would have so easy to bust someone for this, most likely, if anyone in law enforcement or the banking industry gave a damn. For law enforcement, it's too small (per incident) to be seriously bothered, and for the banks, it's just a cost to be passed on to other customers. >>



    Thank you! If in fact this is not an isolated case and there's a ring of these lowlifes targeting coin and currency collectors and dealers, AND the legal people blew this off I wonder if 20/20 would be interested ?
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    That's not helpful Hugegut.
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    BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,632 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Thank you! If in fact this is not an isolated case and there's a ring of these lowlifes targeting coin and currency collectors and dealers, AND the legal people blew this off I wonder if 20/20 would be interested ? >>



    At least they would have someone wait for the dork to pick up the package.
    theknowitalltroll;
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    mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Thank you! If in fact this is not an isolated case and there's a ring of these lowlifes targeting coin and currency collectors and dealers, AND the legal people blew this off I wonder if 20/20 would be interested ? >>



    At least they would have someone wait for the dork to pick up the package. >>



    I was told that it was not as simple as that. That's what the police here told me anyway. Told us he's originally from Houston.
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    BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,632 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I was told that it was not as simple as that. >>



    So did they elaborate on what the complications were? He could also be followed and watched after that.
    theknowitalltroll;
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    << <i>That's not helpful Hugegut. >>


    The guy has the same name and hometown as the guy who ripped you off so I thought you might find it interesting. I stand corrected.
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    ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,669 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The guy has the same name and hometown as the guy who ripped you off so I thought you might find it interesting. I stand corrected. >>

    Well, if the guy's name was Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla and lived in a town of 5,000 people, maybe it would be useful. However, Houston's a big place -- two million in the city, another two million plus in the metro area -- and this isn't a terribly uncommon name. There are probably several people in the Houston area with this name, and even then, that's only relevant if the name used in the scam wasn't an assumed name (which it probably was).
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    BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    Tom,
    It may be worth calling your local newspaper (or CNN) and get a story done about law enforcement's apathy towards these crimes targeting hard-working people trying to earn an honest living. That may generate some action.
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    fishcookerfishcooker Posts: 3,446 ✭✭

    My ID theif opened one of those Toll Tags for his car. Every day he drove past cameras at the toll booth. All they had to do was photo the dude and the car, which is exactly what those cameras are intended to do, but the police didn't because the amount of money was less than $50,000.
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    MoneyCollectorMoneyCollector Posts: 454 ✭✭✭
    I was at my bank a while back with a large deposit of coins and bills that took a while to process. The entire time I was there a man was standing off to the side waiting. Every now and then a lady came out of the back and said it would be a minute longer b/c of [insert an excuse]. The next time I went in the teller told me the man tried to cash a forged check and they called the police and were trying to keep him there. It took the police 45 minutes to show up!!! but amazing THE GUY STAYED THERE AND WAS ARRESTED! Talk about dumb criminals but also it is amazing the cops don't really seem to care. Maybe they are just too busy.

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