Yay Frauds

[Kheldarson]

So my job is to work with money. Cash checks, send money, print money orders, etc.

While today's customers weren't necessarily sucky in attitude, the end result was what pushed it over.

Two ladies come up to my register to cash checks. The first lady hands me hers and I do the standard check for identification and whether or not it's an obvious fraud. It's her check and signature, the check doesn't seem to out of the ordinary, only thing weird was that she lives and works in the state north of us. So she's coming a little out of her way to cash a check. Which was just under a thousand. Well, no help for it, I still have to run it. And it's rejected.

I explain that she'll have to call the check cashing company because until they override it, no store in the chain can cash her check.

The lady doth protest: "But it's a payroll check!"

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I really can't do anything."

And glares and walks towards the exit.

So lady 2 comes up to bat. I take the check and ID. And instantly think, "Why am I looking at the same check?"

Except for the information (like amount, company, and personal identification), the check was the same. Everything lined up as the previous check. It was the same fonts in the same place. About near the same amount. And she's coming from the same place as the previous customer.

So everything's screaming that this is a fake check. Right, the system should reject it since it caught the other one.

Nope. She walked out with a little under a grand.

And a call to 411 and BoA confirmed that the company and account number did not exist.

*sigh*

[BaristaTrav]

So wait a minute... back up.

Your check cashing company took a bad check.. and you knew it was bad?

[Magpie]

You don't get to flag cheques if they look suspicious? That's not cool.

[Amina516]

That sucks.

Why would the system approve one and not the other? And also, i would recommend calling a manager next time. Let them veto it or not. That way it doesnt come back on you.

[Kheldarson]

To answer the questions, my store uses a check cashing company out of Florida. We run the checks through the printers for the thing to read electronically and that determines it. Add in the fact that the new policy is that we have to run all checks through the register period (you know, can't insult the customer by calling them a thief and all that), you get poor me saying "Damn it".

So still won't come back on me, because even a manager can't refuse to run the check through the system. I can only flag after the fact. >.<

[Amina516]

I see.

Thats a sucky policy. But i guess it makes sense, the one time you try and call a fake check, it'll be real and the customer will be extremely offended. Lose/lose situation.

[BaristaTrav]

To answer the questions, my store uses a check cashing company out of Florida. We run the checks through the printers for the thing to read electronically and that determines it. Add in the fact that the new policy is that we have to run all checks through the register period (you know, can't insult the customer by calling them a thief and all that), you get poor me saying "Damn it".

So still won't come back on me, because even a manager can't refuse to run the check through the system. I can only flag after the fact. >.<

In the future, I would recommend making a manager do it if you suspect it's bogus. Let them be on the hook for it. CYA.

I would also consider employment elsewhere because I don't foresee your current company staying in business much longer with such a pi$$-poor "security" policy.

[Kheldarson]

I work for the company everybody loves to hate. So...semi-job security?

Never mind my section of the store is being closed for being "redundant" and being merged in with the customer service desk...

[BaristaTrav]

I work for the company everybody loves to hate. So...semi-job security?

Never mind my section of the store is being closed for being "redundant" and being merged in with the customer service desk...

Ohhhh.. ok. I thought you worked for a stand-alone check cashing type place. Well.. someone's head will roll in that department at the corporate level.

[bainsidhe]

I don't know about the check-cashing business side, but the Hardee's restaurant I worked at used the check machine so we wouldn't be on the line for bogus checks. Any check that was cleared by the machine was insured. That way if it bounced we wouldn't be out the money for it. Except the check machine company started refusing to honor their deal, or claim we didn't do our due diligence getting ID, or they'd take their sweet time reimbursing us. We finally went back to cash only. Mind you, this was before debit/credit ruled the earth.

[bankworking]

Wow, that makes no sense. Not that the machine didn't catch it. The scammers probably have a list of different account numbers and the system will only catch those that have already been flagged as bogus. But the fact that your company policy had you accept the check instead of giving you the time to call to verify it first, machine response be-damned.

We have run across so many "payroll" checks that are bad. Scammers have realized that most places are willing to be more lenient with a paycheck.

[Ironclad Alibi]

So everything's screaming that this is a fake check. Right, the system should reject it since it caught the other one.

Nope. She walked out with a little under a grand.

And a call to 411 and BoA confirmed that the company and account number did not exist.

So does that check cashing company assume liability for the bum check they approved?

[Kheldarson]

No idea. It's a corporate issue now as far as I understand. I'm pointing to the CBL if anybody tries to say I did wrong.

[BaristaTrav]

No idea. It's a corporate issue now as far as I understand. I'm pointing to the CBL if anybody tries to say I did wrong.

Find it. Print it. Carry it with you. C.Y.A.

This is reminiscent of the $1000 TV story. Inevitably they will look at the 1st level retail person where the transaction took place. Be prepared.

[MoonCat]

I get that you have a policy that says you have to run the check, but it's too bad. Wouldn't it be great to be able to tell the 2nd woman, "sorry, your check has all the same markers for fraud as that other check which was declined. Nice try, bye-bye!"