Unauthorized withdrawals from my checking account. What can I do?

[Rhetts_mama]

Nana- what kind of process is it (and how big a pain) if you do the fraud alert on your credit reports?

DD1 found out someone in Cali was using her social security number when she went to do her background checks for nursing school. She filed a police report and reported it to the SSA, but was told unless someone was actually drawing a SS check on her numbers, there wasn't much they could do about it.

[nana911]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

Nana- what kind of process is it (and how big a pain) if you do the fraud alert on your credit reports?

DD1 found out someone in Cali was using her social security number when she went to do her background checks for nursing school. She filed a police report and reported it to the SSA, but was told unless someone was actually drawing a SS check on her numbers, there wasn't much they could do about it.

putting on a fraud alert is just a matter of making the one phone call. you are in essence telling the credit bureau that you fear that your information has been compromised and need to have it ''locked'' so to speak. It is what is recommended immediately upon having your wallet stolen or something of that nature, to protect your information and it is free. I figure the big 3 aren't shy about using my credit information against me when it comes to giving out my info. I'm not shy about letting them think I've been compromised and need them to work for me, for as well.

If someone is using her SS, and illegals do it all the time. Actually, if they are working and putting into my account and not drawing, I wouldn't worry a whole lot about it. If someone wants to work and put money into my SS account that will allow me to draw more later, so be it. However, do make the report to SSA and police and keep a record of the report. If a criminal is using it for identification that could get sticky. Once it has been used in an alias it stays in the con's record as part of his id from then on. Then if it is incorporated as part of the information used in packing a hit in NCIC. a match on a soc is all that is needed to detain someone. Name, sex, dob, nothing else matters. I'm rambling.... bottom line. As far as SS, make the report and keep a record and it should be fine as far as proving anything else.

[Micah my love]

when my deceased husband first got sick (cancer) he went to ssa and signed for disability they told us that someone else had the same number as his
since he had used the number longer than the other person theirs was changed.

[nana911]

Originally Posted by Micah my love

when my deceased husband first got sick (cancer) he went to ssa and signed for disability they told us that someone else had the same number as his
since he had used the number longer than the other person theirs was changed.

I'm sorry about your loss. Terrible time to find snafus. My DH is on disbility as well.

Anyone at anytime can go to an SSA office and request a statement of earnings, I think they call it. Don't hold me to that name. It is a printout of every penny that has been put into your account, showing every job you've ever held, etc... it would immediately show if someone else is using your soc because it will show deposits not made by you. Mine shows my first earnings all the way back to 1958 when I was 3yrs old, so it is extremely accurate. Unfortunately, no one else is putting money in my account but me...

[Micah my love]

Originally Posted by nana911

I'm sorry about your loss. Terrible time to find snafus. My DH is on disbility as well.

Anyone at anytime can go to an SSA office and request a statement of earnings, I think they call it. Don't hold me to that name. It is a printout of every penny that has been put into your account, showing every job you've ever held, etc... it would immediately show if someone else is using your soc because it will show deposits not made by you. Mine shows my first earnings all the way back to 1958 when I was 3yrs old, so it is extremely accurate. Unfortunately, no one else is putting money in my account but me...

Thank you it has been several years now, but ssa did give him a print out
of all of his work history at that time

[Sandysbabies]

Back several years ago when I went thru identity theft, the police told me to never write checks or use a debit card. They said to use credit cards because if they get your debit card number they can clean you out. Someone had my driver's license number and I had not even lost it. They had counterfiet checks made and used my first name, changed middle name and used last name. What a mess. It took a while to finally get it all straight but putting fraid alert on the three credit places is something you need to do. Hope it works out fast for you. It can be a pain. We found out later that some people at the driver's license bureau had been fired for selling license numbers. That is probably what happened to me.

[QuickSilver]

I actually think this it is illegal for the bank to refuse the refund. Certainly it is extremely poor service.

Did this company somehow get your PIN? Or both your account and routing #? Simply having your debit card # or account # is not sufficient grounds for your bank to deny you a refund or require you to open a new account. The only time I know you have to open a new account is if someone steals checks from you.

My debit card was stolen several years ago, and fraudulent charges were made on my account. I got them refunded without a problem.

I would go to the police and have them take a statement. Then I would call up Customer Service, and go as high as you need to go until they will refund your money. Be nice, but don't stop until you get your money back. Write a letter to the president of the bank if you have to -- it works!

Also notify the Better Business Bureau that this company has defrauded you. Ask the police if you can take action against them. Any reputatable business should reverse the charges if the customer disputes them(assuming services/goods were not actually exchanged).

Banking information is stolen SO OFTEN these days, the SOP is extremely well established, and you should not have a problem getting your money back as long as you provide a copy of the police report. Many other banks would be happy to handle your money for you.

Even a debit card that acts as a credit card has a number associated with it that is not your account #. Your bank should be able to issue you a new card with a different #, just like if your American Express were stolen.

If you do end up getting another card / account with this bank, be careful that they don't automatically route charges from this company to your new account! Several months after I had my card stolen, I saw charges *to the stolen number* listed on my bank statement! I called up the bank and they said that since the payment stream had been set up under my original number, they automatically moved payment requests to my new number! But they refunded that money as well.

Also as mentioned, contact the credit bureaus and have them put a fraud alert on your account.

[nana911]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

I actually think this it is illegal for the bank to refuse the refund. Certainly it is extremely poor service.

Did this company somehow get your PIN? Or both your account and routing #? Simply having your debit card # or account # is not sufficient grounds for your bank to deny you a refund or require you to open a new account. The only time I know you have to open a new account is if someone steals checks from you.

My debit card was stolen several years ago, and fraudulent charges were made on my account. I got them refunded without a problem.

I would go to the police and have them take a statement. Then I would call up Customer Service, and go as high as you need to go until they will refund your money. Be nice, but don't stop until you get your money back. Write a letter to the president of the bank if you have to -- it works!

Also notify the Better Business Bureau that this company has defrauded you. Ask the police if you can take action against them. Any reputatable business should reverse the charges if the customer disputes them(assuming services/goods were not actually exchanged).

Banking information is stolen SO OFTEN these days, the SOP is extremely well established, and you should not have a problem getting your money back as long as you provide a copy of the police report. Many other banks would be happy to handle your money for you.

Even a debit card that acts as a credit card has a number associated with it that is not your account #. Your bank should be able to issue you a new card with a different #, just like if your American Express were stolen.

If you do end up getting another card / account with this bank, be careful that they don't automatically route charges from this company to your new account! Several months after I had my card stolen, I saw charges *to the stolen number* listed on my bank statement! I called up the bank and they said that since the payment stream had been set up under my original number, they automatically moved payment requests to my new number! But they refunded that money as well.

Also as mentioned, contact the credit bureaus and have them put a fraud alert on your account.

It was her checking account via her routing number and account number that was compromised, none of her cards.

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by nana911

It was her checking account via her routing number and account number that was compromised, none of her cards.

Yes, sorry, I missed that.

Since you say you don't write many checks, I would be concerned with identity theft. Definitely contact all three credit bureaus and make sure that no new lines of credit have been opened in your name. It's very easy to request a report.

Unfortunately, you probably will need to open a new account if they have your routing number... but you should still not be liable for those charges.

[BonBon]

Thanks for the input and support everyone!

My internet went down this weekend and I wasn't able to get back online and update. I spoke to a different branch manager, explained the situation and he immediately put the funds back into my account. The bank will be conducting an investigation and I've offered to file a police report or help in any way I can.

[jencar98]

Originally Posted by BonBon

Thanks for the input and support everyone!

My internet went down this weekend and I wasn't able to get back online and update. I spoke to a different branch manager, explained the situation and he immediately put the funds back into my account. The bank will be conducting an investigation and I've offered to file a police report or help in any way I can.

Great news Bonny.....I hope they catch the crook and stop them from doing this to others! It's funny how, it is just a matter of talking to the "right" person" to get something done, isn't it.....thrilled you got your money back!

[JDS]

I'm glad you finally got someone who was willing to help you get your funds back! Just a word of caution, if you did not close your account & open a new one you are still at risk for further unauthorized transactions. You should have 2 options: have your bank "flag" your account so that any ACH debits, checks, etc. need to be pre-approved by you or close your current account & open a new one. If it were me, I'd play it safe & open a new account (with the same bank). I know it will be frustrating changing any current autmated payments and direct deposits, but it's the best way to protect yourself at this time.

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by JDS

I'm glad you finally got someone who was willing to help you get your funds back! Just a word of caution, if you did not close your account & open a new one you are still at risk for further unauthorized transactions. You should have 2 options: have your bank "flag" your account so that any ACH debits, checks, etc. need to be pre-approved by you or close your current account & open a new one. If it were me, I'd play it safe & open a new account (with the same bank). I know it will be frustrating changing any current autmated payments and direct deposits, but it's the best way to protect yourself at this time.

Glad to hear it worked out for you.

Please be sure to contact the credit agencies, put a fraud alert on your account, and request a report to make sure no one has opened up a credit card in your name, etc. It's very easy to do, and much, much easier than trying to unwind a long running identity scam. One of my friends got his identity stolen, and the thief bought a car in his name. It ended up being poetic justice, because the car company repo'd the car, and refunded my friend the down payment... which the thief had put down in cash. So in effect, the thief paid my friend more than a thousand $. Still, you don't want to deal with that.

[mattymac]

Originally Posted by BonBon

Thanks for the input and support everyone!

My internet went down this weekend and I wasn't able to get back online and update. I spoke to a different branch manager, explained the situation and he immediately put the funds back into my account. The bank will be conducting an investigation and I've offered to file a police report or help in any way I can.

Good to hear!!

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by JDS

I'm glad you finally got someone who was willing to help you get your funds back! Just a word of caution, if you did not close your account & open a new one you are still at risk for further unauthorized transactions. You should have 2 options: have your bank "flag" your account so that any ACH debits, checks, etc. need to be pre-approved by you or close your current account & open a new one. If it were me, I'd play it safe & open a new account (with the same bank). I know it will be frustrating changing any current autmated payments and direct deposits, but it's the best way to protect yourself at this time.

Thank you!! I'll be closing this account this week. I had to wait for a few auto things to clear early this week - they were too late to stop.