Mystery Cheque Received

maninthestreet

The OP needs to go back to their own Bank and ask if the cheque has been given value yet - that means the funds have actually been transferred from the bank account the cheque has been drawn on, and given to the OP's bank.

brightonman123

personally i wouldnt have banked it- send straight back, or bin it.

a large sum, from an unknown source? just asking for trouble, imo..

sarah_elton

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7693131.stm

After reading this, if it were me I would do the following (but probably take advice of the police first):

Transfer the funds back to the issuing sort code/account. But instead of just a normal bank transfer, go into my bank and do a telegraphic transfer, because it gives you the option to write a note on the transfer. Put a note on saying "You sent me a cheque in error" or similar. Simultaneously, write to the branch of the issuing account, explaining what happened.

You do have to pay to do a telegraphic transfer but I think I'd do it anyway for peace of mind.

maryjane01

I am coming at this from the other end as somebody who has had a cheque book intercepted in the post (well, my husband's cheque book). It is a scam and these are some of the things that happened:

The cheques were sent to random people, 100 cheques in all, I think about 1/5 peopel paid in. At least 20 cheques have bounced due to insufficient funds (my husband took all money out of his account when he realised the chequebooks had been stolen). Shabbey National never cancelled the cheque books or made a note on his account fraud had taken place and on a number of occassions tried to charge him for the bounced cheques! (this issue is currently with their pathetic complaints department).

We reported it to the police, they were not interested.

Somebody who received a cheque with no cover note googled my husband and called him. We told them it was a part of soem fraud.

My husband a few weeks later received a call from the Hounslow Police as somebody who had had a cheque paid into their account was actually kidnapped:eek: and driven to the bank to try and withdraw the money.

The police said there was some gang and a scam involved. I don't think they even got around to taking a statement from my husband.

I guess these people send cheques from stolen chequebooks to random people hoping they will pay them in and then the fraudsters somehow try to intercept the money. Maybe they have fraudlantly obtained your account login details?

The Police do not care, the banks if they do not lose money do not care.

The things that shocks me is the number of people that have paid these cheques into their accounts for amounts ranging from £2,000 up to £18,000 when they don't know where the money has come from!

My advice is clear out your bank account and keep all your money in a separate account and do not spend the £4000, somebody will probably want it back!

longhotbath

.....or in our families case, nothing more sinister than an incompetent solicitor..
My grandmother died, and the solicitor sent a cheque meant for my sister to someone by the same name in a town 5 miles away. They didnt check that the address was correct, but just looked through the phone directory!!
The other woman cashed the cheque - it had no covering letter. She kept it in a savings acoount and paid it back when asked.
Nothing sinister, just incompetence!!!

McKneff

Rustvaar wrote: »

On the topic of OP being held accountable, sure enough he's responsible for his actions but when a bank advises you pay the money into the account - There's got to be some responsibility on their end for such a misguided piece of advice if it does turn out to be scam-related?

quite agree with this post. The bank should have taken in back and the funds then would have gone into a suspense account to wait for someone to miss it.

Biggles

Rustvaar wrote: »

On the topic of OP being held accountable, sure enough he's responsible for his actions but when a bank advises you pay the money into the account - There's got to be some responsibility on their end for such a misguided piece of advice if it does turn out to be scam-related?

That's fine as far as it goes. The bank suggested he paid the cheque into his account. He did. No problem so far. But he should make sure he takes no further steps without getting the bank's (and preferably the police's) advice first.

jonesMUFCforever

maninthestreet wrote: »

The OP needs to go back to their own Bank and ask if the cheque has been given value yet - that means the funds have actually been transferred from the bank account the cheque has been drawn on, and given to the OP's bank.

It makes no difference if the cheque was stolen or forged or washed - it will still be debited back to OP's account.

emweaver

Rustvaar wrote: »

On the topic of OP being held accountable, sure enough he's responsible for his actions but when a bank advises you pay the money into the account - There's got to be some responsibility on their end for such a misguided piece of advice if it does turn out to be scam-related?

It is making the bank accept responsibility and proving they said it thats the problem

faye6174

Sorry i have no advice but i am reading this thread with great interest, i hope you are going to keep us informed OP!!