Hello everyone:

This week I was preparing to balance my checking account when I noticed a very large charge against the account, one from a place I had never heard of. I immediately went to my bank (I had laryngitis so talking on the phone was not an option) to find out what had happened.

The bank informed me that the money was given to an apartment complex that is about 30 minutes from my house. A phone call to that complex confirmed that a man and woman had rented an apartment and offered my bank account number as the source of the money to pay the rent.  More news: a second payment had gone through and my account was now out by almost $3,000.00. Additional news: the withdrawal was set up to happen every month from there on out.

The gal had walked into the manager’s office, said that she was me, and told the lady that she wanted to pay her friend’s rent.  I do not know if she was required to show any identification, but, when I asked the rental agent for my money back, she commented, “File a police report.”

They apparently plan on letting the man continue to live there, though the rental agent said, “well, we won’t accept anything except cash or a cashier’s check from him in the future.”  They would not be taking any action against him, though she was going to call him right then.

Long story short, I filed a police report but do not know if they will ever serve time for their crime.  My bank is investigating the situation and I might get my money back….in a couple of weeks.

Here’s the bottom line: stay on top of things with your bank account. Question anything you find unusual….and jump right on any discrepancies. Three thousand dollars is a lot of money, but it would have been worse, if I hadn’t caught them.

Best,

Dr. Sheri