Community Chat

[Estellee]

I also pay online. Maybe one check per month tops!

[ScrapHappy]

Saw on my local news yesterday that a man had $21,000 stolen from his bank account.  Someone posing as him (had a license with owners name)went to several different banks in a couple of hours and withdrew about $9,000 at each bank.  The man was interviewed, of course upset, but also furious because there were no red flags at the bank that allowed this to happen.  

[skatting44]

 Usually , a checking account is separate from a Saving account . That's how you can get over charge fees for insufficient funds in a checking account . Most people keep low amt's in their checking accounts to avoid  large mat's being taken if someone alters a check you wrote.

[Shelbelle]

I just ordered new checks, if Ihave to write them, I do !! Give lots of checks in gifts to my grandkids. 

[RespectLife]

I don't believe checks are any higher risk.

You pay online...you have either entered your bank info or your CC info.

How many times have we read about so and so being breached and all our info is out there???

You order online, your CC info is out there.  Even if you don't store it...these 'brilliant' hackers have a way of getting it.

My Discover card has been hacked 3 times over the past 4 yrs while it never left my purse.

I just keep an eye on everything so I can report any funny business immediately.

[icezeus]

@Sunshine Kate 

I think it's worse if it's a card you send to someone, because the envelopes tend to be brightly colored which screams a celebration of some sort and possibly money inside. 

I always send my Niece and Nephew birthday cards in the mail, but on the morning of their birthday I send them cash via Zelle. 

[teganslaw]

Thieves are everywhere. Stolen checks, online hackers, credit card info stolen, data breaches: nothing is safe. I don't buy that one way is worse than the other. Maybe the best thing is not to use the computer or pay any bills. Ha! 

The best thing is to stay vigilant but not worry too much about this. 

[chrystaltree]

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@icezeus wrote:

I need to review my aunt's bank statement. She refuses to pay any other way. I paid a couple of bills for her a few weeks back by hand walking checks into the establishments, (ughhh)  and mailing one payment from the post office.

There are many elderly who can't change.  Doing what you did reduced the risk but often... perhaps usually...the theft of checks happens within the companies the checks are mailed to.  My former employer had a problem with mailroom employees who were stealing checks and money orders.  It wasn't one person stealing an occasional check.  It was a professional operation with a contact at a bank.  We did get my sister off the check habit...finally.   We had to explain to her how debit cards work and how secure they are if you use the few basic rules.  

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[sunshine45]

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@Sunshine Kate wrote:

What should one do if sending a birthday card to someone and want to enclose a check?

I don't put cash or gift cards in a card, because the post office employees can usually tell if a gift card is included.  It's easy to spot a greeting card of some type in the mail.  

Seems like enclosing a check is the way to go.  (Or used to be anyway).

If it's a local friend/relative of course I see them in person.  I have some family/friends though that live in different states and I need to mail.

Any suggestions?

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@Sunshine Kate 

i send and give checks for occasions.

if you are now worried about enclosing a check, why not just make a note in the card to say you want to give him or her a birthday gift, didnt want to send it in the mail,  and you need their zelle/venmo/paypal/cashapp information to send it.

[Mindy D]

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@icezeus wrote:

@stellabystarlight 

Thank you for the tip on Indelible ink pens. I will look into it and purchase for my aunt.

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@icezeus @Amazon sells them in various size packages. Uniball 207.

They are resistant to acetone, which is the most common substance used. Some customers have done their own tests and have posted photos. These pens dry out very quickly, so you might need to get a few. Some have a tip that is protected with a coating you scratch off with your finger of something else.