Don't ever ask "What else can go wrong?"

[cleolinda]

... because you just might get an answer.

I don't have all the details because all I'm going on is an angry phone call from my mother, but apparently someone in Columbus, Georgia, has spent $699.82 of my parents' money. It was at a Wal-Mart? Using a check? But it was entered electronically so the check was handed back to the person and they don't have it? We live in Alabama and we've never been to Columbus? And the corresponding number among my mother's checks was a $100-ish payment to Shell? We're hoping that it was somehow a mistake on the bank's part and not, you know, someone with my parents' bank account number living it up at Wal-Mart. They're on their way to the bank right now, and then on to the police department if necessary (but oh my Lord do I hope it is not necessary).

Comments

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Yes, because things were going so swimmingly up to this point....

Best to you and yours, Cleo. Y'all could handle just a liiiiittle bit less of this fiduciary nonsense right about now.

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

"Fiduciary fuckery" sounds more appropriate.

As someone who went through identity theft last year (and saw debits being made on my account IN FREAKIN' JAPAN WHERE I'VE NEVER BEEN), I feel your family's AARRRRGH-ocity.

[scarletsherlock.livejournal.com]

oh no...I hope someone just entered some numbers wrong, or generally just had some sort of bank screw-up. Either way, *fingers crossed* for you guys--you have been through enough crap already! Keep us posted.

[agentsculder.livejournal.com]

I hope that this turns out to be a mistake, but more than likely it sounds like someone got ahold of you parent's checking information, and had themselves a good time. However, generally if you file a police report, your bank's insurance will refund the missing money back to your parents' account.

That happened to my parents (unfortunately the "thief" was my brother), and my parents did want to file a police report for obvious reasons. So if your parents are certain they were robbed, get that police report filed, and they should be eligible to get that money back!

[urox.livejournal.com]

And make sure you force the police station to take a report in case you get an asshat at the front desk saying "the crime wasn't committed in your city" because he doesn't want to do paperwork on a slow Monday night.

Why yes, I encountered something like that, also dealing with a purchase at Walmart using my stolen info.

[clovecigarettes.livejournal.com]

How did your mom discover this? It's good that she keeps track of the checks she writes -- I know a LOT of people who don't (which is craziness to me).

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I think the bank called her? I'm not sure. I think the check was for more than she actually had in checking at the time (she gets paid at the end of the week).

[bigeyedrabbit.livejournal.com]

Oh no. ::polite don't-really-know-you-but-this-SUXXORS hugs:: Hope it all gets worked out ASAP.

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

With this sort of thing in mind, the "Let us write your check for you! All you have to do is sign!" notice at Kroger is even more baffling.

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Banks usually have some protection against ID fraud. I had it happen to me this winter, and the bank gave me my money back pending an investigation. The investigation concluded that it was ID fraud (and not me defrauding the bank), and so they let me keep my money.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they're going to put the money back in by tomorrow (update); she clearly has another check written on the same number and wasn't in Columbus. At this point I think she's more concerned that someone has the account number. We're hoping that it was a clerk/machine error.

[wenchsenior.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I hope this is a mistake. I live in such paranoia about this that I compusively shred everything financial when I'm finished with it.

[darth-snarky.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. I am so sorry. I hope it works out, and they're able to get the money back, mistake or no.

[thecenterlane.livejournal.com]

Cuddles for serious. Sends good, healing vibes.

[glyphs.livejournal.com]

Yeesh...I'm so sorry that you guys are having to deal with all this. Major crappyness (crappiness?). I hope it all works out. Fingers crossed for you.

[tifaria.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, Cleo. I hope it turns out to be a mistake on the bank's part. My own parents had to deal with someone wiping their bank account a few years ago, and it was quite the headache. :(

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

What the fucking hell? Seriously, this is ridiculous. Let's go assault the karma gods until they stop screwing with your family financially.

*hugs and small furry stuffed animals*

[ninepointfivemm.livejournal.com]

Wow. Just wow.

I hope they get everything figured out and that you don't have any more money issues after that. Because... that just sucks for anyone to deal with.

*random blogger hug*

[edda.livejournal.com]

Jesus H. Nuggets on toast with Spam, what the fuck is UP with this whole week? And who the fuck is out to screw your family? I'm horribly sorry. I hope it all gets ironed out easily and with no scary stuff or delays.

[bibsy.livejournal.com]

Wow, my state's citizens suck. :( I'm sorry that happened to you.

[jackieocean.livejournal.com]

I hope it all works out okay! Financial stress, especially from mystery sources like this one, is the worst.

[syneblue.livejournal.com]

I have to say, after Sonic and Sears, I'm kinda looking forward to the story of how your mom blew up a bank and Wal-Mart and possibly Ohio with THE POWER OF HER MIND.

[elbales]

FOR THE LULZ

[mustang-bex1126.livejournal.com]

Damnit! Now you've got that in my head... I was thinking something similar- "Man I hope it's all cleared up quickly so Mom doesn't have to smack a bitch"

Cleo: If it *is* identity theft, the police should just stick the perpetrator in a room with your MOTHER. They'll be scared straight, if they survive.

[elbales]

. . .

Cleo? Have you considered checking your property for hex marks?

Here's hoping it was just a clerical error and not fraud, because that would sure suck. Best of luck!

[emerybored.livejournal.com]

You live in the south... have you found any chicken carcasses or anything around your house or cars because it sounds like someone's working a bad case of voodoo on y'all. (My family's from southern Louisiana, I don't mess with that stuff.)

Seriously, it sounds like y'all have more than you can handle and then some. *love and prayers from random cleo blog reader*

[jenelope.livejournal.com]

I hope it turns out to be a mistake. But if it turns out to be theft, I hope they catch the person and they fry in hell.

[ocarina.livejournal.com]

I don't know how much of a hassle it will be, but I don't think your folks'll be responsible for the money, especially if the same cheque number has already been used for the account. I just attended a banking identity theft seminar last night and this is fresh on my mind. If someone does have the account number on your cheques, you'll probably want new ones and the bank will probably suggest it, too, since whoever this was might try the account number again. I have never heard of a retail place taking cheques electronically, maybe that's only what the bank has now? In any case, should turn out okay, minus the accompanying craziness.

[stringertheory.livejournal.com]

Well, damn. If it's not one thing, it's three others, innit?

Here's hoping things take an upturn for you. Heaven knows you and yours deserve a break. :D

[emisi.livejournal.com]

If it was a check with the same check number, it could be a check washing scam. Some inks are able to be washed off somehow, and then the thief just reuses the check.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I just posted a new entry, but: yeah, we have confirmation now that it was a check washing scam. *headdesk*

[chocotaku.livejournal.com]

When god hands you lemons, you make lemonade. Sometimes god likes to piss in your lemonade too. >_< GOOD LUCK JOB!!

[chrryblssmninja.livejournal.com]

that's horrible. ugh.

[doveofsneezy.livejournal.com]

Um, this doesn't help AT ALL but your title reminded me of a quote that I like from a Stephen King book (I know, I'm awful). It's "God punishes us for what we can't imagine." Like, if you can't imagine things getting worse, they're totally going to get worse.

See? Told you it wouldn't help.