We have a customer who has brought us a Cashiers Check - she sold her car, the buyer sent her a C/Ck for a larger amount asking for the difference back (a BIG RED FLAG). Anyhow he continues to call her daily telling her to hurry up and deposit the check, now he's calling her daughter and requesting the same. She has taken the check to our local Police, however they didn't seem too interested as nothing has happened. She just knows she is a possible victim here and wants to catch the guy.

I couldn't find the name of the bank on the Quick Reference Guide to missing, stolen etc. check's which prompted this post. We don't have the book of banks w/ABA Nos. so I can't look it up this way. The Internet Search is going nowhere. Maybe someone can private post me for assistance in contacting the bank to see if the check is counterfeit.

Your help is appreciated, as this detective is going nowhere. Thanks!

Cheryle,

First, you need to contact the nearest office of the US Secret Service and ask for an agent in the Financial Crimes Unit. Explain the situation to him/her and they will probably advise you on what to do. They are fully aware of these scams and are likely already investigating it. Next you can go to routing numbers to check the routing number on the check. Don't get too comfortable if the number matches the name because some counterfeit checks do actually have the correct routing numbers. Next, you can go to bank directory to find the name and address of the bank. Then go to the Internet and do a search on the bank name to get the phone number. Probably the best person to talk to would be the bank's security officer. Just ask for him/her and if you are asked why you want to talk to him/her just say you want to discuss a possible fraud against the bank. After all, if there are counterfeit cashier's checks floating around with their name on them, they probably know it. If they don't know it, they will probably appreciate the information from you.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!

The customer has not released her car yet... has she?

Cheryle,

You could always do as someone in another thread has suggested. Have your customer tell the scammer that the bank has refused to accept the check for deposit and that it will be sent for collection. Your customer can tell the scammer that he/she will have to wait until the issuing bank remits funds for the check before the car and the overage will be sent to him/her. That should get him/her off the customer's back.

Cheryle--
We had a VERY similar situation take place here. Our customer did not lose any money because we held funds, thank goodness. This is obviously a scam, so I'd follow the advice from a couple posts up. Another way, as arcaine as it is, is to simply enter the routing number as a google search. That will usually give you a couple of responses. One of them should give the name of the bank and possibly a location. You can then use either ATT.com or infobel.com to find a phone number using that information. Just as stated above, only deal with a fraud or security person. We deal with these things more regularly than does a bookkeeper, so we're more likely to ask the right questions and give good answers and advice, especially as to the authenticity of the check. Good luck.

Cheryl--
The advice about sending the check for collection is good. Under no circumstances should the customer allow the "buyer" to wire funds to his/her account. Once the scammer has your customer's account information, the situation could become an even bigger headache. Good luck.

I agree with sending the check for collection. Looking up the routing number will not do any good if the number is good, but the check has been stolen. The person that accepted the check should not let the "buyer" of the automobile intimidate them. The "seller" has a right to ensure that the funds are good before passing money back to the buyer. The seller could also tell the buyer to take the check back and issue a check for the correct amount.

Hopefully, the automobile has not passed hands. If it has and the check is a forgery, the seller should contact the state licensing agency and show them proof that the title information should not be changed. The automobile should be reported as stolen.

Thanks everyone! I love it when we catch things before they happen. The check is fraudulent, in fact the Bank stated they returned three other items this morning for the same thing.

Congratulations on the good job. I'm sure your customer can breathe a sigh of relief knowing you saved him/her a lot of money.