Question regarding fraudulent checks

Good afternoon, Have any other libraries experienced checks mailed to library vendors with remittance addresses in Atlanta, GA being fraudulently cashed? My library has had four checks sent to B&T and Cengage fraudulently cashed in the last six months. The three checks were mailed by the City of Roseville to the verified P.O. boxes in Atlanta and were cashed at both a large bank and a party store. Our library was notified by B&T and Cengage that they had not received the checks which our Controller's office verified were cut, mailed and cashed. After contacting the City's bank, Comerica, the City Controller contacted the local police when images of the checks showed that they were either "washed" with the payee name being removed with white-out and rewritten or signed by an unknow individual and cashed. Local police notified other agencies and fraud claims were submitted to the post office. The City also had two checks (Autozone and Firestone) that were sent to post office boxes in Atlanta cashed fraudulently recently. The City and Library will eventually be reimbursed. For now we are paying all invoices for vendors doing business through an Atlanta post office box by credit card as the City sets up ACH. Since most libraries use B&T and Cengage, I thought there may be other cases of fraud. Regards, Jackie Jacalynn Harvey Director Roseville Public Library 29777 Gratiot Avenue Roseville, MI 48066 586-447-4550 586-445-5407 Library General Information 586-445-5499 FAX [1506967672552_PastedImage] www.rosevillelibrary.org www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI<http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI> https://twitter.com/rsvlibrary https://www.instagram.com/rsvlibrary/ <http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI> <http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI>

Jackie, Recently I have had a couple of checks going to Cengage that were never been received by them. I was notified by our account representative that they did not receive our payment, so a stop payment was placed on those checks. I have the "positive pay" feature through Chase set up on all our accounts. I simply upload a list of all checks that I have written that include the check number, date, vendor's name and amount. If something doesn't match, Chase will not pay them. About six months ago I sent a check to TIAA-CREF for some employee payroll deductions that went to a PO Box in Atlanta. They never made it to TIAA-CREF. Someone tried to "wash" it and cash it at a Chase Bank. The bank manager saw that the amount and payee had been changed because it didn't match the positive pay information. She called me to verify that I entered the payee information correctly, which I confirmed. She was able to get that person apprehended for check fraud. You might want to check with your banks to see if they offer something similar to Chase's positive pay feature. It definitely saved us several times from fraudulent checks. Thanks, Amy From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> On Behalf Of Jacalynn Harvey (Roseville Public Library) via Michlib-l Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 2:27 PM To: Michlib-L <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] Question regarding fraudulent checks Good afternoon, Have any other libraries experienced checks mailed to library vendors with remittance addresses in Atlanta, GA being fraudulently cashed? My library has had four checks sent to B&T and Cengage fraudulently cashed in the last six months. The three checks were mailed by the City of Roseville to the verified P.O. boxes in Atlanta and were cashed at both a large bank and a party store. Our library was notified by B&T and Cengage that they had not received the checks which our Controller's office verified were cut, mailed and cashed. After contacting the City's bank, Comerica, the City Controller contacted the local police when images of the checks showed that they were either "washed" with the payee name being removed with white-out and rewritten or signed by an unknow individual and cashed. Local police notified other agencies and fraud claims were submitted to the post office. The City also had two checks (Autozone and Firestone) that were sent to post office boxes in Atlanta cashed fraudulently recently. The City and Library will eventually be reimbursed. For now we are paying all invoices for vendors doing business through an Atlanta post office box by credit card as the City sets up ACH. Since most libraries use B&T and Cengage, I thought there may be other cases of fraud. Regards, Jackie Jacalynn Harvey Director Roseville Public Library 29777 Gratiot Avenue Roseville, MI 48066 586-447-4550 586-445-5407 Library General Information 586-445-5499 FAX [1506967672552_PastedImage] www.rosevillelibrary.org<http://www.rosevillelibrary.org> www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI<http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI> https://twitter.com/rsvlibrary https://www.instagram.com/rsvlibrary/

Hi all, This thread reminded me of a story I just saw in the news - thought it might be worth a share! https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/07/05/usps-mail-theft-check-fraud-... Sounds like trying to pay with credit cards or online payment systems might be safer at this time (barring any cyber attacks, of course). Jen Jennifer Noble (she/hers) Librarian II, PL/MAL Detroit Public Library 5201 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI 48202 jnoble@detroitpubliclibrary.org (313) 481-1385 (o) ________________________________ From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Amy Goldyn via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 2:43 PM To: Jacalynn Harvey (Roseville Public Library) <jharvey@roseville-mi.gov>; Michlib-L <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Question regarding fraudulent checks CAUTION: This email originated from outside of Detroit Public Library. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Jackie, Recently I have had a couple of checks going to Cengage that were never been received by them. I was notified by our account representative that they did not receive our payment, so a stop payment was placed on those checks. I have the “positive pay” feature through Chase set up on all our accounts. I simply upload a list of all checks that I have written that include the check number, date, vendor’s name and amount. If something doesn’t match, Chase will not pay them. About six months ago I sent a check to TIAA-CREF for some employee payroll deductions that went to a PO Box in Atlanta. They never made it to TIAA-CREF. Someone tried to “wash” it and cash it at a Chase Bank. The bank manager saw that the amount and payee had been changed because it didn’t match the positive pay information. She called me to verify that I entered the payee information correctly, which I confirmed. She was able to get that person apprehended for check fraud. You might want to check with your banks to see if they offer something similar to Chase’s positive pay feature. It definitely saved us several times from fraudulent checks. Thanks, Amy From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> On Behalf Of Jacalynn Harvey (Roseville Public Library) via Michlib-l Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 2:27 PM To: Michlib-L <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] Question regarding fraudulent checks Good afternoon, Have any other libraries experienced checks mailed to library vendors with remittance addresses in Atlanta, GA being fraudulently cashed? My library has had four checks sent to B&T and Cengage fraudulently cashed in the last six months. The three checks were mailed by the City of Roseville to the verified P.O. boxes in Atlanta and were cashed at both a large bank and a party store. Our library was notified by B&T and Cengage that they had not received the checks which our Controller's office verified were cut, mailed and cashed. After contacting the City's bank, Comerica, the City Controller contacted the local police when images of the checks showed that they were either "washed" with the payee name being removed with white-out and rewritten or signed by an unknow individual and cashed. Local police notified other agencies and fraud claims were submitted to the post office. The City also had two checks (Autozone and Firestone) that were sent to post office boxes in Atlanta cashed fraudulently recently. The City and Library will eventually be reimbursed. For now we are paying all invoices for vendors doing business through an Atlanta post office box by credit card as the City sets up ACH. Since most libraries use B&T and Cengage, I thought there may be other cases of fraud. Regards, Jackie Jacalynn Harvey Director Roseville Public Library 29777 Gratiot Avenue Roseville, MI 48066 586-447-4550 586-445-5407 Library General Information 586-445-5499 FAX [1506967672552_PastedImage] www.rosevillelibrary.org<http://www.rosevillelibrary.org/> www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI<http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI> https://twitter.com/rsvlibrary https://www.instagram.com/rsvlibrary/

Hi Everyone, Grosse Pointe Public Library had the same experience with a check we sent to Baker and Taylor a few months ago. The check was also altered and cashed at a Delta Credit Union in Georgia. We reported it to Baker and Taylor, our local police, and Chase. Thankfully, we got the money back but it was a process. We had "positive pay" with Chase but that didn't stop the check from being cashed. Since then we upgraded to Positive Payee Verification which will further protect us from fraud. We're working with Chase to enroll in CashFlow 360 which will make all of payments ACH. What a mess. Thanks for sharing and hopefully this stops happening, Darlene ________________________________ From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Jacalynn Harvey (Roseville Public Library) via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 2:26 PM To: Michlib-L <michlib-l@mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] Question regarding fraudulent checks Good afternoon, Have any other libraries experienced checks mailed to library vendors with remittance addresses in Atlanta, GA being fraudulently cashed? My library has had four checks sent to B&T and Cengage fraudulently cashed in the last six months. The three checks were mailed by the City of Roseville to the verified P.O. boxes in Atlanta and were cashed at both a large bank and a party store. Our library was notified by B&T and Cengage that they had not received the checks which our Controller's office verified were cut, mailed and cashed. After contacting the City's bank, Comerica, the City Controller contacted the local police when images of the checks showed that they were either "washed" with the payee name being removed with white-out and rewritten or signed by an unknow individual and cashed. Local police notified other agencies and fraud claims were submitted to the post office. The City also had two checks (Autozone and Firestone) that were sent to post office boxes in Atlanta cashed fraudulently recently. The City and Library will eventually be reimbursed. For now we are paying all invoices for vendors doing business through an Atlanta post office box by credit card as the City sets up ACH. Since most libraries use B&T and Cengage, I thought there may be other cases of fraud. Regards, Jackie Jacalynn Harvey Director Roseville Public Library 29777 Gratiot Avenue Roseville, MI 48066 586-447-4550 586-445-5407 Library General Information 586-445-5499 FAX [1506967672552_PastedImage] www.rosevillelibrary.org www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI<http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI> https://twitter.com/rsvlibrary https://www.instagram.com/rsvlibrary/ <http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI> <http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI>

Hi - We had a large check addressed to Baker & Taylor that was fraudulently altered and cashed. We reported it to Baker and Taylor, the police, and our bank. Thankfully, we got the money back but it was a process. Since then we upgraded to Positive Payee Verification which will further protect us from fraud. On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 2:29 PM Jacalynn Harvey (Roseville Public Library) via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:
Good afternoon,
Have any other libraries experienced checks mailed to library vendors with remittance addresses in Atlanta, GA being fraudulently cashed? My library has had four checks sent to B&T and Cengage fraudulently cashed in the last six months. The three checks were mailed by the City of Roseville to the verified P.O. boxes in Atlanta and were cashed at both a large bank and a party store. Our library was notified by B&T and Cengage that they had not received the checks which our Controller's office verified were cut, mailed and cashed.
After contacting the City's bank, Comerica, the City Controller contacted the local police when images of the checks showed that they were either "washed" with the payee name being removed with white-out and rewritten or signed by an unknow individual and cashed. Local police notified other agencies and fraud claims were submitted to the post office.
The City also had two checks (Autozone and Firestone) that were sent to post office boxes in Atlanta cashed fraudulently recently.
The City and Library will eventually be reimbursed. For now we are paying all invoices for vendors doing business through an Atlanta post office box by credit card as the City sets up ACH.
Since most libraries use B&T and Cengage, I thought there may be other cases of fraud.
Regards,
Jackie
Jacalynn Harvey
Director
Roseville Public Library
29777 Gratiot Avenue
Roseville, MI 48066
586-447-4550
586-445-5407 Library General Information
586-445-5499 FAX
[image: 1506967672552_PastedImage]
www.rosevillelibrary.org
www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI
https://twitter.com/rsvlibrary
https://www.instagram.com/rsvlibrary/
<http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI>
<http://www.facebook.com/RosevillePublicLibraryMI>
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participants (5)
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Amy Goldyn
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Darlene Dery
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Jacalynn Harvey (Roseville Public Library)
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Jennifer Noble
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Teresa Chase