Somebody Cleaned Out All Our Bank Accounts/A Rant

[Susang]

Boy, the hits just keep on coming! Just when you think you've gotten a break, somebody blindsides you.

After going to the bank this afternoon, my husband comes home and tells me that somehow, he has a zero balance in his checking account. After a life or death struggle with Fifth Third Bank's customer service line, he found that someone had written a check for cash for precisely the exact amount he had in his account. They could offer him no explaination and basically said there was nothing they could do for him at this time, that he had to check with his branch. When he tried calling them, they didn't bother to pick up the phone after 45 rings..

After checking my account online, I discovered that my checking account and our savings account had been similarly cleaned out.

So, we call the customer service line (again) and were told that checks for the exact amount of our accounts were written for cash(again) and coincidentally all of our accounts showed a zero balance. Speaking of coincidences, we get the same guy on the phone that my husband spoke with the first time. He was not much help either time, though at least this time he offered to freeze our accounts, something he didn't do the first time Michael spoke to him.

So now we have no money, Michael has to take off work tomorrow so that we can go down to the branch office and scream at some people, and to top it all off, I have a horrendous cold.

This sucks.

[Cha]

1. So Sorry! I hope this Mystery gets cleared up Muy Pronto!

You Poor Things! How could this happpen? :-(

[radwriter0555]

37. Call the POLICE. Do this before you even go to the bank in the morning

to see what THEY need to open an investigation...

[Systematic Chaos]

2. OMG that's terrible!!

Best of luck you the both of you tomorrow. I hope the nab the rat bastard that did this.

Please tell me your credit cards (if you have them) are all frozen too.

[Maple]

3. Do you use an ATM?

Scam going on recently where they record your account number from a tiny camera on the machine...then clean out your account.

[Susang]

23. I do use an ATM

But the thieves didn't use my cash station card number, they used checks made out to "cash". There was no unauthorized activity on our cards.

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. Susang! How terrible.

Call the cops, please. Talk to a higher-up at the bank tomorrow. There has to be a way to clear this up. Have you been robbed of checks recently? Almost sounds like an inside job.

[Susang]

12. No missing checks

We rarely write them, except for the rent. We will definitely call the police after we speak to the folks at the bank tomorrow.

The thing we're really pissed off about was how the customer service rep spoke to us as if we were somehow to blame. He seemed to think that we had actually written the checks. Moron! :mad:

[greatauntoftriplets]

13. Something stinks to high heaven.

Take notes when you talk to the bank people tomorrow so you can share the info with the cops.

[Susang]

16. I agree

I think either someone inside the bank is responsible or that someone hacked into their internet banking site. I know it couldn't have come from hacking into our hard drives since I keep no account numbers on mine, ever. Plus, I have a Mac and they are very hard to hack. Michael doesn't keep any account info on his computer either and he says we have a excellent firewall.

It's frustrating and it makes me worried for any other people that might have been hacked (like families with kids, the elderly, etc) who might not have the resources Michael and I have.

[nini]

20. I didn't have missing checks either..

someone printed their own (different design than mine) and wrote a check with a number about 100 greater than the current checks I was writing.

I'm still not sure who got hold of my info and how but I am as careful as I can possibly be but sadly still at risk. it is very frustrating

[Susang]

22. We're all at risk these days

Everything is on a computer somewhere. Computers will always be hacked, particularly if it involves money. The people doing it feel disconnected to the victims so it doesn't bother them as much.

[bearfartinthewoods]

45. who have you written checks to recently?

that's how they got your acct number but i have no clue how they got the amount unless a counterperson at the bank did it without asking for ID.

[ronnykmarshall]

48. I watch my account like a hawk.

I work at the bank that we do out primary banking at. Here's a few tips:

DO NOT have any personal info printed on checks (ie Drivers Licences numbers or S/S numbers), if you don't write checks to merchants like stories or such, don't even put your address on them.

Checks in statements: If you get your checks back in your statements, shread them and your statements when throw them out. We get check images on our statements and I shread the whole statement when I throw them out.

[ronnykmarshall]

49. I watch my account like a hawk.

I work at the bank that we do out primary banking at. Here's a few tips:

DO NOT have any personal info printed on checks (ie Drivers Licences numbers or S/S numbers), if you don't write checks to merchants like stories or such, don't even put your address on them.

Checks in statements: If you get your checks back in your statements, shread them and your statements when throw them out. We get check images on our statements and I shread the whole statement when I throw them out.

[ronnykmarshall]

50. That's typical

Some of these customer services reps are so untrained when it comes to these issues. Most of our employees are part time and all they do is give out balances and what check have cleared.

PLEASE keep us posted. I work for a bank and if I can be of any help, please let me know.

[Maddy McCall]

5. Susan, aren't you only liable for the first $50?

The bank is at fault if they didn't compare the sig on the fraudulent check against your signature card (or your husband's).

Raise holy hell about this. The bank is at fault!

[punpirate]

19. $50 is for a credit card with adequate notice....

In this case, if a check were drawn, it's the bank's responsibility in full. Forgery is entirely the bank's responsibility. That's why they have you sign signature verification cards--it's up to them to verify that the signatures are correct.

In fact, unless someone broke into your house and stole checks (and be sure to ensure that did not happen--the usual trick is to tear out a few from the middle of a book of checks that you've not yet used), it's up to the bank to contact the police. The crime is against the bank, not you.

I would suggest that rather than dealing with customer service, ask to speak to the supervisor for bank security, and if they ask why, tell them it's about a forgery.

Cheers.

[Susang]

21. "Customer Service"

Refused to connect us to the Fraud Dept. We took down his name and the exact time we called so that his incompetence can be recorded. We wouldn't be so angry if he'd actually spoken to us as if he cared that all the money we have in the world had just been stolen. He acted like we were the criminals.

[punpirate]

25. Is this bank locally owned?

Or is it a subsidiary of a larger bank? If the latter, call the bigger bank.

In any event, make sure you write a letter to the main office, describing the circumstances, perhaps with a pleasant little reminder that if they are unconcerned about forgery, perhaps their insurer will be (banks carry fraud insurance for precisely this reason).

I went through the same thing a few years ago.

Cheers.

[Susang]

27. Fifth Third Bank

Large midwestern bank that swallowed up our other slightly less large midwestern bank Old Kent, which in turn had swallowed our locally owned bank Merchandise National Bank.

The person we spoke to was from the national office. He was evil. In a just world he would be punished severely. The best I think we can hope for is an apology. But we will get our money back!

[Don_G]

44. 5/3rd Sucks

I've had to deal with them before.

[ronnykmarshall]

51. That's a crock!!

You've been robbed!!

:grr::grr::grr::grr::grr:


I HATE when I hear this crap.

[ronnykmarshall]

47. The bank has to refund the money

There is no way that you are going to have to eat this loss. Something is VERY fishy.

First off, to clean out an account by check that person would have to know your balance on the work day they wrote the check. Sounds like pure ID theft. They went into a branch of your bank, got your balances and wrote either a counter check or used one printed off a printer with your account number on it. HOWEVER this could have been done by depositing a check into another bank.

The savings account would have to have been done in YOUR bank. Most banks will not allow full balances to be withdrawn without closing the account. Did you savings have check acccess?

This is bullshit that the branch would not take action TODAY. Even if you were not at your own branch. You are 100% have the right to collect your money. If the checks were deposited at another BANK, that bank has to find away to recover the funds and your bank is in the clear.

Tips:

Do NOT take no for answer. You've been a victim of theft and the bank has to eat the money if they have too. Also once the money is recovered, CLOSE all the accounts and open new ones. Either with that same bank of another. (sounds like your bank is screwing you over)

CALL the police! This is has to be reported.

Run a credit report and have the bank check and see if other accounts have been opened in your name. There is a company called Check Systems that banks use for new accounts.

You're going to be fine. The bank has to refund the money and go after the fraud.

Please keep us posted on the info.

I've been in the banking business for years and fraud is big issue. The crooks are smart. There is too much info out there and fraud is getting really bad with people able to print checks at home. Stick to your guns. Don't freak out and present the facts. You BOTH need to go to the bank and get this shit cleared up.

Best of luck and ........ :loveya:

[SOteric]

6. How odd.

And simultaneously horrid.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Oh my, I am so sorry. What a mess. But some good news. When they

get the checks and the withdrawal from your savings they will be able to match the signatures up with your signature card on file. Thus, they will not match, and the bank will have to redeposit the funds as it was their error.

**side note: I used to work in a bank, and sometimes counter checks(checks they give customers to use when they are out of their own checks) get encoded wrong. Meaning your account number may have been accidently encoded on their check. This happened to me once, and overdrew my account by over $5000. Doesn't look good when you work at the bank you bank at. Anyway, all was well, and I hope all will be for you as well. Take care.

[Susang]

17. I'd love to see the checks

I'm sure they are computer generated or something like that. At first I thought it might have been a bank error, but I doubt that now since my husband and I have different names and different checking accounts, and the accounts were drained of only what was available for cash. They weren't overdrafted.

[Fridays Child]

18. Keep your foot right on the bank's neck until you're happy.

Give them no breaks.

[oldleftguy]

8. What a nightmare.

Let us know how it turn's out. In solidarity. :scared:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Sounds like check washing

Do you leave your mail for the mailman to get where someone can steal it?

Either way I am really sorry to hear this Susang. Let us know if we can do anything for you.

Martin (DS1) and Matt know how to set up paypal.

[Susang]

14. I rarely leave anything for the mailwoman

The post office is only a few blocks away, so I prefer to leave my mail there

Thanks for your generous offer :loveya: but I'm sure we'll be fine. We've got a great support system here if it turns out we need anything. I'm hoping we'll be able to clear this up quickly and with a minimum of bloodshed. :evilgrin:

[ronnykmarshall]

52. The savings

What's really weird is that her savings was cleaned out as well. Inside job??? Sounds possible.

[E_Zapata]

10. That is incredibly outrageous

Some lady bought a concert ticket from me for $60 once, and when I went to her bank to cash it, they took my license number and a finger print AND called the account holder to verify the check.

I felt like a criminal.

And, no, I don't look like I just got out of jail.

And the teller didn't question this person ..... how unusual is it for an account holder to write a check for the exact amount in the account (3 accounts) and not just close the account?

Check your credit cards and anything else you might have.

Also check your credit report........make sure no one has opened any credit cards in your name.

I am so sorry. I am sure this will be corrected.

Oh, and cancel any automatic debits to your account, if you have any. Fees will ensue.

:-(

[7th_Sephiroth]

15. it sounds like an inside job

probably (ex?) employees of the bank cleaned you out

[nini]

11. Something similar happened to me..

someone wrote a check but not for the full amt and I did catch it right away. the bank (Wells Fargo) gave me my money back as the check was cashed at a branch and the tellers didn't follow all the rules to verify the check. I did have to close the acct. etc.. and it scared the crap out of me. From your story I would say the bank is liable as they should have called you to confirm. It almost sounds like an inside job to be honest.

I went to Equifax.com and signed up for identity theft protection which I recommend for EVERYONE.. it's worth the money for a little piece of mind.

Good luck and put the pressure on the bank to reimburse you. File a police report and check out equifax - there are a couple other similar agencies that also offer credit protection services but I can't remember their names.

Good Luck.

[Jim Sagle]

30. Trans Union and Experian are the other two bureaus.

[No Passaran]

24. another nightmare

...when I was younger and in college, money was tight so every cent counted. I remember going to the bank one day and depositing close to $2000 that I got thru some loans. Teller took my DL#, account number and "deposited the money into my account".

Few days go by and I am writing checks for the books etc.. I get a statement that I am $800 in red. I was freaking out thinking someone stole my money because there was no way that this was happening after I deposited those 2 grand.

After a day spent arguing with a manager, I was able to reproduce my deposit slip and guess what happened. She wrote my Drivers Licence # down where my account number was supposed to go to. So that money was just floating around with nowhere to go.

I didn't even get an apology from them. Teller who did this just said "well they're too close together" (DL# is on the top and my account number is on the bootom).

This folks was Nations BAnk now known as Bank of America.

So what I'm trying to say is: It might be a human mistake or some kind of a glitch in the system.

[Susang]

28. I considered that

But three separate accounts makes me think it's something else.

[ronnykmarshall]

53. That SUCKS

God! I hate hearing back horror stories. Most tellers are part time, under trained and under paid. If your NAME is on the deposit slip then your account should be credited.

Tip (good lord, I'm Mr Bank tips today), make sure YOU fill out the deposit slips when depositing. Some times these screw ups take days to clear up.

[Catherine Vincent]

26. Don't they normally get your thumb print when cashing a personal check?

What a horrible situation. Sorry this happened to you and your hubby.

[WindRavenX]

29. Aw, hugs!

I hope everything works out, and keep DUers here informed.
And get over that cold! :hi:

[Art_from_Ark]

31. Very odd

My bank would ask for ID if I wanted to cash a check from my own account. If your bank cashed checks from your account without verifying the identity of the person cashing the checks, they should be liable.

[noiretextatique]

32. damn, Susang...that is awful

the good newss is you should be able to recover the money, but it may take a little time. when my bank "lost" a deposit i made, they eventually "found" it, but it took a week and half! meanwhile, i had checks bouncing, including a check to a grocery store...equifax. it took me a while to get it all cleared up, and to get the bank to reimburse me for all the fees i had to pay. i hope your situation get resolved soon...keep us posted :grouphug:

[MSchreader]

33. Did you throw away any returned checks/check stubs lately?

All they need are the routing numbers to clean out your account.

Martin

[prolesunited]

34. How awful!!!

They had to have had inside information to clean out your accounts for the EXACT amount. It looks like you have quite a frustrating day ahead of you, but I'm sure you'll get it all worked out. Let us know what happens and if the bank has any idea what happened.

Good luck with everything today.

[GOPisEvil]

35. Wha ha?

My goodness - I hope this gets cleared up quickly.

:grouphug:

[brokensymmetry]

36. Perhaps you should call the OCC.

The Comptroller of the Currency regulates all national banks. A web link is http://www.occ.treas.gov/customer.htm

Yes, they have a toll-free number: 1-800-613-6743

I hope you get your money back soon!

[NashVegas]

38. I'd Try the FTC

Identity theft is on their scorecard, too, IIRC.

Do you or your husband ever pay bills online using your checking account /routing numbers?

I'm sure you haven't, but just for asking's sake, did you respond the the latest round of eBay scams, asking for that info?

[BritishHuman]

39. That's awful!

That they did it for the exact amount in each account is very odd. If they just had some cheques, or even just your account number, how would they know that? Either someone at a branch has majorly screwed up, or it's an inside job.

Please keep us posted!

[GOPisEvil]

40. I do hope butts have been kicked and names taken.

Let us know!

[northzax]

41. damn, that sucks

one more suggestion: does one of your local TV stations have a consumer reporter? you know, the 'people's advocate' or something like that? if so, they are very good at putting pressure one banks and the like to make you whole again. and this is the type of tihing they can really get into.

[MissMillie]

42. Any chance the transactions were caught on bank video? (n/t)

.

[geniph]

43. You need to file an Affidavit of Fraud

with the bank or with the police. I'd call the police (not 911, of course) and ask to make a report of a theft. Make sure any correspondence with the bank includes the police report number, and cc your state banking regulatory agency on all correspondence as well (you get more attention from the bank when you do this). Keep copies of everything.

In the meantime, contact any creditors who may be waiting for payments and explain the situation. That way, if any payments are late while this is being cleared up, there'll be a note in your file and you won't get an adverse mark on your credit report.

I'm really sorry this happened. People suck sometimes. Stealing from other working folks is really low.

One thing many financial institutions are starting to recommend is that you put the absolute minimum of information on your checks - DON'T, under any circumstances, have your telephone number, driver's license, or SSN printed on your checks. If you put your address on your checks, only use the city and state. Always shred any unused checks, deposit slips, or stubs containing any of your account information. A $15 shredder can save you a world of misery.

I hope your cold gets better and this gets resolved to your satisfaction promptly.

[Heddi]

46. Please. Call the police NOW---not tomorrow

Don't put anything off any longer than you have to.

This is fraud. This is theft. Call the police now.

If you go into the bank with a police report number, the bank will KNOW YOU MEAN BUSINESS< and aren't just 'pulling a fast one'.

The police will probably tell you to call them when you get done with the bank....

About 5 years ago, someone stole my Tax REfund out of my mailbox---all $682 of it and cashed it at a pawn shop.

I didn't even KNOW the thing was missing until I realized it was mid-june and no refund check yet. Called the IRS, said check was sent in March, and cashed in April !!???!!!

They sent me a copy of the cashed check---the asshole who stole my check MISSPELLED MY NAME IN THE SIGNATURE!!!

Called the pawnshop where it was cashed and the dude's like "oh yeah. I remember you cashing that check". "Really, what do I look like" I asked. Couldn't answer that for me.

As soon as I found out from the IRS that the check was cashed, I called the police and filed a report. Then, when I got the copy of the Xld check in the mail, I called the police to update my report, gave them a copy of the forged check, the names of the people at the IRS< etc.

The IRS issued me a new check immediately, and I have no idea if the person who cashed my check was ever arrested, or if anything was done to the person who allowed the check to be cashed-----

but get that police report number NOW!!! Belive it or not, if it comes down to nitty gritty with the bank, they may question why you DIDN'T call the police right off the bat when you realized the money was removed from your account.....

Good luck with everything! Please keep us updated!

And do what everyone else said--check your credit report, check your CC statements as well. Also, call the 3 major credit reporting agencies and put a notice on your account where if anyone tries to open a line of credit in your name, YOU ARE CALLED to verify it. It's a pain in the booty if you're trying to get a sears call to have to get 3 phone calls from 3 different agencies saying "yes, I got a sears card", but it'll save you ALOT of hassle if you're NOT the one trying to open accounts :)

[bleedingheart]

54. How could someone have known exactly how much you had?

This sounds like an inside job or something of that nature...

As freakish as this sounds could it be that someone else was closing their accounts to transfer elsewhere and the incompetent bank closed out yours instead?
(I hope that is the case because it can be easily resolved..)

[Susang]

55. THANKS EVERYONE!!!

Michael and I went down to the branch this morning and got the ball rolling. They were much nicer than the dude we dealt with on the phone. They fixed our accounts and now they're investigating it internally to see if it was some sort of bank error or if it was fraud. Apparently, the guy on the phone was incorrect when he told us that checks had been written. Luckily, we had taken down his name and the time we called the support line, so they will have file a report on his rudeness and poor service.

Thanks to everyone who gave us support and advice. Looks like we'll be doing okay after all! :loveya:

[Kenneth ken]

56. YAY YOU!!!

and thanks for letting us know what happened today.

I didn't post on this yesterday - didn't have any helpful ideas -
but I was interested. Hey, I have money in a bank, too.

Glad it will turn out okay for y'all.

:bounce:

[nini]

57. Good news....

good to hear it'll work out ok for you two

[ronnykmarshall]

59. Good NEWS!

Glad everything turned out ok!!


:bounce:

[SiouxJ]

60. God what a nightmare

glad things are getting straightened out. :-)

[jpgray]

58. I would make such a scene!

You may have a different style than I, but I would give that bank holy hell. They should have connected you with their fraud people immediately! Get your money out and get on the horn with the Better Business Bureau as well--I believe that would be a good move. They NEED to cooperate with you, as they are at fault.