Scammed!

[treatneggy]

Checked my bank account online this morning to see if my direct deposit had gone through and noticed a check withdrawl with an unfamiliar check number.

When I pulled up the check image, I noticed that while the check had my name, it had the wrong address. Check was made out for $26.95 to "Goodman Group" at phone # 1-866-273-4979.

Contacted my credit union, but they won't do anything until I can contact the people at the phone # an ask them for my money back. Been trying to call all morning but nothing but a busy signal.

This will piss me off if I have to pay the $20 payment cancellation fee to get the money back.

This timing is even worse since my wife just started her college classes this week and got shafted for an extra class that she wasn't expecting to take and won't be covered by her financial aid.

 

[smokinghole]

Call your credit union back and tell them you want to speak to the fraud dept manager. This is how people test bank accounts to see whether they can get away with a larger chunk of $$. Stay on the phone until blue in the face and you have exhausted all venues of getting it taken care of by someone that your account interest (the part not paid to you) helps pay.

If you still get resistance tell them you would like to talk to the account cancellations dept because you're closing the account and taking your business to a local competitor.

 

[caseabb]

I believe that above post is correct. They are probably testing the account. A very small random number. They think you will probably not notice. If you look at most bank account agreements you are responsible for some amount. Typically around $500 if is it a check, less if it is a debit card transaction. I bet they are willing to work with you. This is a crappy situation all around. I wish you luck. Thank goodness you caught this early!

 

[Wink]

Thats sounds odd, credit unions/banks now a days have so much set up for fraud protection, you would thin they would jump right on it? At least you have a number to call that helps, if not then your bank has to investigate this further Good luck.

 

[SuperKrishna]

Call your credit union back and tell them you want to speak to the fraud dept manager. This is how people test bank accounts to see whether they can get away with a larger chunk of $$. Stay on the phone until blue in the face and you have exhausted all venues of getting it taken care of by someone that your account interest (the part not paid to you) helps pay.

If you still get resistance tell them you would like to talk to the account cancellations dept because you're closing the account and taking your business to a local competitor.

+1 from me. Similar thing happened to me on one of my accounts. They took care of everything for me.

 

[treatneggy]

I verified the scam by Googling the phone number. Apparenty some ppl have had luck getting their money back from the 'service reps' there.

The C.U. teller knew about the scam also, saying that someone had come in just the other day with the same thing and was able to get his money back from calling the phone # while at the teller's desk - and then told me that unless I could get through to the number they couldn't do anything.

Anyway, I filed the online complaint form at http://www.ic3.gov but not expecting them to do anything.

Had a fraudulent charge on an AmEx card the other year and had to file an identity theft report with the FTC and fax it to them before they would take if off my account. Thought that was odd, since Chase always fixed me up right over the phone.

 

[Wink]

Wow......That's hard to believe? Yet they know it's a scam and that you didn't make the purchase case closed, you should get your money back? Hope it works out.

 

[ciggy]

Call your credit union back and tell them you want to speak to the fraud dept manager. This is how people test bank accounts to see whether they can get away with a larger chunk of $$. Stay on the phone until blue in the face and you have exhausted all venues of getting it taken care of by someone that your account interest (the part not paid to you) helps pay.

If you still get resistance tell them you would like to talk to the account cancellations dept because you're closing the account and taking your business to a local competitor.

This is correct!! I've had this happen with my credit card so I know how upsetting this can be. It all worked out in the end but you have to stay on top of it. Change acct numbers and passwords including new checks.

 

[Angry Bill]

Call your credit union back and tell them you want to speak to the fraud dept manager. This is how people test bank accounts to see whether they can get away with a larger chunk of $$. Stay on the phone until blue in the face and you have exhausted all venues of getting it taken care of by someone that your account interest (the part not paid to you) helps pay.

If you still get resistance tell them you would like to talk to the account cancellations dept because you're closing the account and taking your business to a local competitor.

Excellent advice. It is the credit union/banks responsiblity to ensure customer service and investigate allegations of fraud. Stay on their asses.

 

[CWS]

I had a group to this to my old company. They got a hold of the check routing numbers and account and used check writer to write multiple checks on the account. Had the devil of a time getting our money back and had to close the account to actually stop it.

 

[krulos]

i work at a bank, and i see this crap everyday. you need to have them place a no debit status on the account until the charge is refunded and open a new account asap. once they have your routing # and account # they will do this again under multiple fake business names.

 

[MichiganM]

That really sucks bro. I hope they get this straightened out!

 

[Pietastervw]

Call your credit union back and tell them you want to speak to the fraud dept manager. This is how people test bank accounts to see whether they can get away with a larger chunk of $$. Stay on the phone until blue in the face and you have exhausted all venues of getting it taken care of by someone that your account interest (the part not paid to you) helps pay.

If you still get resistance tell them you would like to talk to the account cancellations dept because you're closing the account and taking your business to a local competitor.

The same thing happened to my fiancée the other day and she had to do what was suggested here. Looks like she's going to get the money back after all but because she did have to exhaust all venues before they would try to help her she ended up closing her 3 accounts and going to a diff bank anyways.

Good luck to you bro.

 

[smokem94]

Call your credit union back and tell them you want to speak to the fraud dept manager. This is how people test bank accounts to see whether they can get away with a larger chunk of $$. Stay on the phone until blue in the face and you have exhausted all venues of getting it taken care of by someone that your account interest (the part not paid to you) helps pay.

If you still get resistance tell them you would like to talk to the account cancellations dept because you're closing the account and taking your business to a local competitor.

Great advice....I would drop them anyway after it's resolved. I had the same thing happen, and my bank caught it, refunded the money right away, issued new debit and credit cards. Don't expose yourself by sticking with an institution that doesn't respond immediatley.

 

[Jwrussell]

Find yourself a new bank/CU, bro. That response is unacceptable in this day and age.