Cheque Book Security...

[Ramius]

Here is my rant for today...

Went into a shop this morning, as one does, picked out an item, which in this case was a magazine, went to the counter...reached into my pocket and pulled out my very worn wallet. Opening the wallet, I reached over handing my EFTPOS card to the gentleman...Put in my account details...pushed ok...what does it pop up on the little screen...DECLINED...I thought, hold on, there is over a grand in that account...tried again...DECLINED... It was at this point I started stressing...but, it was the beginning of my stress...
I came home to check my accounts online, and, not only was I no longer in credit on my account, I was in Overdraft. And the reason why, somebody has cashed 2 cheques from an old cheque book of mine. Total amount purchased was just over $2k A phone call to the bank gets me into see someone today, and also have to go and file a police report...

Moral of the story...Keep your shit safe. Oddly enough, this is not the only time I have been hit with fraud. A couple of years ago with my Visa, somebody managed to max out my card + some. The bank took care of that, 60 days later I got my money back because the bank which owned the EFTPOS terminal could not provide a receipt with my signature on it. In this case, I used my card at a store, and got my copy of the receipt, the receipt that the store keeps had printed on it, my card # and expiry date which a lovely story clerk used elsewhere...
If I find the bastard that has used my cheques, I am gonna slaughter you!

[Jonty]

Here is my rant for today...

Went into a shop this morning, as one does, picked out an item, which in this case was a magazine, went to the counter...reached into my pocket and pulled out my very worn wallet. Opening the wallet, I reached over handing my EFTPOS card to the gentleman...Put in my account details...pushed ok...what does it pop up on the little screen...DECLINED...I thought, hold on, there is over a grand in that account...tried again...DECLINED... It was at this point I started stressing...but, it was the beginning of my stress...
I came home to check my accounts online, and, not only was I no longer in credit on my account, I was in Overdraft. And the reason why, somebody has cashed 2 cheques from an old cheque book of mine. Total amount purchased was just over $2k A phone call to the bank gets me into see someone today, and also have to go and file a police report...

Moral of the story...Keep your shit safe. Oddly enough, this is not the only time I have been hit with fraud. A couple of years ago with my Visa, somebody managed to max out my card + some. The bank took care of that, 60 days later I got my money back because the bank which owned the EFTPOS terminal could not provide a receipt with my signature on it. In this case, I used my card at a store, and got my copy of the receipt, the receipt that the store keeps had printed on it, my card # and expiry date which a lovely story clerk used elsewhere...
If I find the bastard that has used my cheques, I am gonna slaughter you!

Mate that sucks!! this really highlight the risk that cheques pose. Usually banks will not confirm signatures unless the amount is up around $2K. I would complain very loudly to the bank for honouring the cheque!

[Virago]

Here is my rant for today...

Went into a shop this morning, as one does, picked out an item, which in this case was a magazine, went to the counter...reached into my pocket and pulled out my very worn wallet. Opening the wallet, I reached over handing my EFTPOS card to the gentleman...Put in my account details...pushed ok...what does it pop up on the little screen...DECLINED...I thought, hold on, there is over a grand in that account...tried again...DECLINED... It was at this point I started stressing...but, it was the beginning of my stress...
I came home to check my accounts online, and, not only was I no longer in credit on my account, I was in Overdraft. And the reason why, somebody has cashed 2 cheques from an old cheque book of mine. Total amount purchased was just over $2k A phone call to the bank gets me into see someone today, and also have to go and file a police report...

Moral of the story...Keep your shit safe. Oddly enough, this is not the only time I have been hit with fraud. A couple of years ago with my Visa, somebody managed to max out my card + some. The bank took care of that, 60 days later I got my money back because the bank which owned the EFTPOS terminal could not provide a receipt with my signature on it. In this case, I used my card at a store, and got my copy of the receipt, the receipt that the store keeps had printed on it, my card # and expiry date which a lovely story clerk used elsewhere...
If I find the bastard that has used my cheques, I am gonna slaughter you!

Shit mate, what a bummer! Keep us posted on how you get on with the bank / police.

I think that most Eftpos systems have now been changed so that the complete credit card number is not printed out, so that's closed another loop-hole for scumbag store staff.

[bugjuice]

that suks big time..
hope you get it sorted

[XTC]

Mate that sucks!! this really highlight the risk that cheques pose. Usually banks will not confirm signatures unless the amount is up around $2K. I would complain very loudly to the bank for honouring the cheque!

My mrs used to work for the bank in cheque processing and only cheques for amounts over 10K had signatures verified. I have no idea where our cheque book is... I'm not allowed any of my money

[jazbug5]

Are you liable if they and the store have honoured a stolen cheque?
They should presumably have asked for a bank/cheque guarantee card and written the details on the back of the cheque. If they didn't do that, then surely you are not liable..?

[MSTRS:Me]

Moral of the story...Keep your shit safe. Oddly enough, this is not the only time I have been hit with fraud. A couple of years ago with my Visa, somebody managed to max out my card + some. The bank took care of that, 60 days later I got my money back because the bank which owned the EFTPOS terminal could not provide a receipt with my signature on it. In this case, I used my card at a store, and got my copy of the receipt, the receipt that the store keeps had printed on it, my card # and expiry date which a lovely story clerk used elsewhere...

Sorry to hear that & hope you get it resolved quickly. Low-life thieves should be sent to the arabs to deal with. No system is safe tho - not cash, cheque, eftpos, cr-card etc.
Just take all the care that is possible, and hope your money stays safe.

[Ramius]

Are you liable if they and the store have honoured a stolen cheque?
They should presumably have asked for a bank/cheque guarantee card and written the details on the back of the cheque. If they didn't do that, then surely you are not liable..?

Something I really don't know, I will find out when I go to the bank shortly. Its not a situation I like to be in at all!

[sels1]

Sorry to hear that mate. But still come to the do tonite, we'll shout ya a beer if you're a bit short - you will need one by then I think...!

[bear]

My mrs used to work for the bank in cheque processing and only cheques for amounts over 10K had signatures verified. I have no idea where our cheque book is... I'm not allowed any of my money

Depending on the Bank I think you'll find it is a fair bit higher than this.

[James Deuce]

You know, I'd go mental if it wasn't for the fact that I can always think of Sean when things are bad, and say to myself, "It could be worse."

I hope this stuff stops happening to you one day soon.

Jim

[bear]

...I came home to check my accounts online, and, not only was I no longer in credit on my account, I was in Overdraft. And the reason why, somebody has cashed 2 cheques from an old cheque book of mine. Total amount purchased was just over $2k A phone call to the bank gets me into see someone today, and also have to go and file a police report...

Dude, that sucks, hope it works out okay!

[XTC]

Depending on the Bank I think you'll find it is a fair bit higher than this.

Probably is now..... This was back when 10K was alot of money

[Jonty]

Are you liable if they and the store have honoured a stolen cheque?
They should presumably have asked for a bank/cheque guarantee card and written the details on the back of the cheque. If they didn't do that, then surely you are not liable..?

The bank is not liable to the drawer if the collecting banker who recieves and collects a cheque on behalf of a customer in good faith and without negligence. The onus is on the banker to establish that they were not negligent, usually the courts will look at factros such as internal bank practice and policy to see if it was followed in the particular case (and consequently if not, this may give rise to neligence).

In this case, I would imagine that what will happen is that the bank will attempt to track where the money has gone and get it back for you (fingers crossed).


Good luck

[bear]

...I would imagine that what will happen is that the bank will attempt to track where the money has gone and get it back for you (fingers crossed)...

Yeah, but if the cheque has been cashed then she's a gone-burger.