Check Scam

[Anakah]

So this lady comes to my window with the craziest most fucked up check I have ever seen. I don't remember the payroll company it said it was from but it was 1. Already signed on the back with TWO different signatures 2. Had a stamp that said "endorsement cancelled" 3. It was a crazy high amount. 4. Her Id info was already on there with a thumb print and 5. No play

SC: I'd like to cash this check. It's already signed. *looks smug*

Me: .... I will ask my supervisor, one moment please.

I took one look at it and knew it was going to be a NO but we're not allowed to say No unless we "ask."

So I took the nasty check into the back and the boss lady said this same lady came this morning and the cage manager said NO.

I went out and told them no.

Me: unfortunately it's not in our system so we can't cash it. But I see that it's drawn from ____ bank. You can go there to cash it.

SC: I tried. They wanted to only give us 200 until they could verify it. I need it NOW. And I don't have an account with them.

If you have a check that high and if it were legit, you'd get an account.

She was out of state too.

SC: so what do I do??

Me: You can try the all check cashing place, I believe they are still open but they may charge you a fee...

SC: Ugh, whatever I will just ask the manager later!

Me: (of course I did that after she stomped away)

This lady had hit every one of our cashiers on each shift. She never got it cashed.

Flash foward to the next day. A guy brought that same check up. Odd that a dude brought the exact check up...

SD: Stupid dude


SD: I was told by the young girl yesterday that you would cash this if I spent 2k.

SV: Sir, we are not a bank you need to take this to one.


SD: Such BS!

That young girl would've been me and I KNOW I said no such thing nor did I see that guy AT ALL the day before. Idiots. Nobody in their right mind would touch that check with a ten foot pole!

[Pixilated]

I guess they figure that persistence pays off in the end ...

[BroSCFischer]

I guess they figure that persistence pays off in the end ...

Well, there's persistence... and then there's insanity. Per Einstein repeating the same action multiple times, expecting different results, is insanity.

Considering the state of the check, I think insanity fits here.

SC

[Chromatix]

Hmm. For the benefit of those of us not used to the American cheque system, what do those various markings mean in theory (or practice)?

IIRC, signing on the back is done when the person cashing it is not the payee named on the front, so the payee does the signing. But with *two* signatures, on the back, at least one of them cannot match the payee's actual signature.

The very high value definitely gets your attention, and ensures that you'll do it by the book.

The rest of it is harder to understand from an outsider's perspective...

[Zellie Crescent]

Are you guys allowed to call the cops for stuff like this, that sounds like check fraud.

[MoonCat]

I'm curious about #5, "no play" What exactly does that mean?

[Teskeria]

I'm curious about #5, "no play" What exactly does that mean?

They haven't played at that casino.

[Sapphire Silk]

Hmm. For the benefit of those of us not used to the American cheque system, what do those various markings mean in theory (or practice)?

IIRC, signing on the back is done when the person cashing it is not the payee named on the front, so the payee does the signing. But with *two* signatures, on the back, at least one of them cannot match the payee's actual signature.
.

Basically, when someone writes a check to you, your name is on the front of the check. When you cash or deposit it you sign it on the back to indicate that the person it was written to actually cashes it, and to then prevent someone from cashing it at multiple places.

Sometimes people will "endorse" checks over to other people to give them the money; you write "endorse to" or "sign to" and the name of the person, and they sign it.

Which since the OP said the endorsement was canceled, it makes me think the check was stolen.

[wolfie]

Sometimes people will "endorse" checks over to other people to give them the money; you write "endorse to" or "sign to" and the name of the person, and they sign it.

Which makes it a "3rd party cheque". Those call for the services of an 11 foot tall Romanian giant - because most businesses won't touch them with a 10 foot Pole.

Cookies for reference.

[Seshat]

If they had the idea that a Casino would have more lax financial security than a Bank, they were SOOOOOO wrong.

But I suspect that that's why they were so persistant in coming to you guys. Because they knew a bank would turn them away.

[Zapper]

It's just too bad you can't stick Monopoly money just for these situations.

SC:"Hey! This isn't real money!"
You: "Well, this isn't a real check."

[Zellie Crescent]

I remember Lary the cable guy doing a joke like that about going to a strip club.

[ComputerNecromancer]

Hmm. For the benefit of those of us not used to the American cheque system, what do those various markings mean in theory (or practice)?

IIRC, signing on the back is done when the person cashing it is not the payee named on the front, so the payee does the signing. But with *two* signatures, on the back, at least one of them cannot match the payee's actual signature.

The *legit* way to get two signatures on the back is the you have a check made out to you. You sign it and give it to me. I'd then have to sign it myself when depositing it to my bank.

This is known as a "two-party check". And *nobody* but banks will take them. And then only if the second party has an account. Even then, they'll likely put a hold on it until it clears.

So that check is all kinds of major red flags.