Missing Cheques

[Barmaid]

I am getting a bit worried that I have now had 3 cheques go missing. The first I was able to get the drawer to cancel it pdq because I was expecting it and quried it when it didnt turn up. The other two I have only just realised (thought I was a bit skint!) and they are several weeks old. I think someone is pilfering my mail.

Just to add insult to injury I had a letter delivered on Friday that looked like it might be a cheque (it wasnt) and had been opened!!!

Anyway, I discovered this too late today to phone the drawers to check to see if these cheques had been banked.

This got me to thinking. Obviously no one can bank these cheques as they are account payee and in my name. However, it is surprisinly easy to open an online account without providing any ID (you only need appear on the electoral register) - it would be the easiest thing in the world for someone to open an online account in the name of Miss B Maid at 20 Acacia Avenue (my address, for the avoidance of argument) and then operate it online. Pay the cheques in by posting them to the bank and then go online and transfer the money out.

So, how can I find out if anyone else has any accounts in my name?

[gness]

Hi, Barmaid.......just a thought.......send yourself five or six items of mail....same post box....value stamp etc. but only one looking like it contained a cheque.
Then if the one that looks like a cheque arrives at a different time or damaged you'll know where to start looking for the culprit.....maybe...would that work?.....I don't know but I think I'd give it a try....x

[Jackdaw33]

Just twigged there, DTC. Osborne House, a mausoleum.

[woofgang]

Barmaid, is there an empty house or flat near you? A few years ago we had a postmand who continually but not all the time if you get what I mean, delivered our mail to a nearby house with a similar address. problem was that the house was empty as the owner had died. We were doing financial stuff at the time and it was a bit hair raising when stuff went missing. Luckily a keyholder dropped a whole bunch of mail back to us and told us how to contact him if we were missing anything else. I ended up having to complain to the post office as it happened 5 or 6 times after that!

[mikey4444]

If you are having letters arrived that have been opened, or not arriving at all, you should contact the Royal Mail immediately. There is wide-spread theft in Royal Mail sorting offices, although it is very rarely reported in the media.

One of the most common thefts is money and postal orders stolen from childs birthday cards, as they are easily recognisable. Which is why I never send cards to children addressed to them, in pastel coloured envelopes.

I put the card inside another nondescript envelope, addressed to Mr and Mrs XXXXX.

Contact the manager at your local sorting office straight away Barmaid !

[Barmaid]

Update:

I reported to the PO as soon as I realised. One cheque has been cashed. The other was cancelled. We believe by the bank. Copies being obtained. Safety measures immediately in place to stop the thieving toe rag get any more of my money.

As to reporting it to the police, what a farce. Complaint to follow. As for Actionfraud, another joke.

Lets just say that you would be amazed how many sweary type words one person can get into one sentence.

NOT FEKCING HAPPY. This was clearly a bad week to give up drinking.

[chrissa1]

So sorry to hear this BM. It sadly just goes to show, that even the old, "safe" way of paying bills is not 100% safe.

[Barmaid]

I am gutted Chrissa. Not only have I lost a shed load of money but so far today have done no work because I have spent ages phoning people, reporting it, talking to stupid people (the first of several conversations with the police was frankly farcical), checking accounts. Now I am going to have to spend all day forensically checking other stuff too.

As for the stupid comments I have had from police/Action Fraud etc, no wonder people dont like reporting crime. Had I been a less legally trained member of the public, I would probably have given up about 2 hours ago.

[ummmm]

And do you know what, BM, a few years back Owen and his mate got mugged by bigger kids. They stole £1.70 (all the money they had) no phones or anything and I had two visits from the police. They drove from Kettering (where it happened) to Northampton both times!!!

[Barmaid]

If I told you the conversations I had had with the police, no one would believe me. Eventually I got to talk to a human being (although this did take varying degrees of threats of complaints and drop kicking the postman into the lake). She was quite helpful. Far more helpful that the stupid woman at ActionFraud who said "That's not evidence" - at this point steam shot out of my ears as my blood pressure went stratospheric.

[tamborine]

How Did a stranger cash out your cheque. Most places that cash cheques ask for ID or the cashier risks losing out, surely?

[hc4361]

That's already been discussed, tambo. There are plenty of third party check cashing companies on the high street or somebody could have opened an account in barmaid's name

[Barmaid]

I dont know Tambo. All I know is I didnt cash it and it was made out to me. We believe the second cheque was paid in, but refused by either the receiving bank or the issuing bank. Until I get details, I cant do a lot else. I am hopping mad/worried/skint/too busy to deal with scumbag thieves.

The thing that concerns me with the cashed cheque is that I know the people who sent it and I KNOW that they print their cheques. Consequently, altering it would be difficult so it must follow that it has gone to a third party cheque cashing place or someone has an account in my name.

[tamborine]

Its not simple to open accounts without ID evidence, utility bills etc. Am interested how its done for crminal purposes....I still have my late OHs cheque books

[Barmaid]

It is extremely simple to open an online account without ID. I know because I did it last year when we went to Italy. All they needed was an address, phone no (mobile) and an email address. I remember at the time thinking it was too easy. OK, I went for the option of having a card so there was a physical thing sent to my address, but there was also the option of having no card and thus no physical notification to my address. You just post cheques off and then log on and transfer it anywhere. Easy peasy.

Thus anyone could open an account in my name. They fill in the form saying "Miss B Maid, 20 Acacia Avenue" date of birth 25/12/1994 (who am I kidding?) - my birth date could easily be obtained from the Central Registry particularly as my name is quite unusual. Give them a throwaway mobile no - that is where the confirmation text will be sent and give them any old email address [email protected]. Jobs a good un.

[tamborine]

Thanx barmaid....deceased cheque books have a value - hmmm