Author Topic: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah  (Read 8479 times)

Offline noturbizniss

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My boss just showed me a print out of a check he wrote for $5.00 to someone who came collecting at his door in flatbush.  He had left the to field blank.  The check was deposited without the guy either filling out or endorsing the check.
The scary thing is that the guy wrote fifty over the five, and turned the 5.00 in the numerical box into a 50.00.  If you look closely at the "fifty" you can see the "e" from the five.  Becuase of my boss's handwriting the "5" in 5.00 was very narrow, so it was easy to turn it into the left part of a "0" and there was enough room to add another 5 next to it.
He found 2 checks that this happened on.  It's scary thinking about how many other times this has happened, how many other people this happened to or will happen to.
It's not so simple to go to chase and tell them because if the guy is constantly doing this (and did not use a no id grocery or check cashing place) this can lead to prison. 
Regardless, just be careful to write clearly on checks when your giving it to someone you may not fully trust.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2013, 02:13:53 PM by noturbizniss »
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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Offline AMZ450

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2013, 02:12:57 PM »
showed you what???

Offline mmermss

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2013, 02:13:10 PM »
my boss just showed me

Showed you what?
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2013, 02:14:10 PM »
Sorry - hit enter by mistake. 8)
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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Offline Centurion

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2013, 06:45:10 PM »
the check
you can only make a first impression ONCE

Offline churnbabychurn

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2013, 07:53:55 PM »
There have been reports of meshulochim washing checks also. Beware.

Offline Yeki89

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2013, 07:57:02 PM »
I always write on my checks void after 30 days, and insist on making it out to a person.
No go, no money!

Offline U-no-me!

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2013, 08:25:24 PM »
I always write on my checks void after 30 days, and insist on making it out to a person.
No go, no money!

Like a true yeki  ;)
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Online bubkiz

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2013, 08:29:01 PM »
I always write on my checks void after 30 days, and insist on making it out to a person.
No go, no money!
Slightly OT, but does that really make it void? Meaning, if I try to deposit a check w/ void after 60 days, will it bounce?
(Just found a rebate check from March 2012)

Offline Saver2000

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2013, 08:36:11 PM »
Slightly OT, but does that really make it void? Meaning, if I try to deposit a check w/ void after 60 days, will it bounce?
(Just found a rebate check from March 2012)
I don't think it will bounce,  but the teller isn't supposed to accept it. .

Offline bubbles

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2013, 08:37:05 PM »
I don't think it will bounce,  but the teller isn't supposed to accept it. .

Chase quick deposit?

Offline Yeki89

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2013, 09:32:52 PM »
It gets them scared.

Offline A3

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2013, 10:02:16 PM »
http://jewishnewssite.com/index.php?act=11&sid=474

Another example of what the OP is concerned about

Offline meshugener

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #13 on: January 31, 2013, 01:14:51 PM »
I only give to meshulochim who accept credit cards.
Love me or hate me. I still love you.

Offline real-brisker

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #14 on: January 31, 2013, 01:27:02 PM »
Yeki89 - What does making void after 30 days do for you?

Online bubkiz

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #15 on: January 31, 2013, 02:24:04 PM »
Chase quick deposit?
Meaning ATM?
I don't want to get a $25 "returned check" fee for a $15.47 check.

Offline bubbles

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #16 on: January 31, 2013, 02:40:56 PM »
Meaning ATM?
I don't want to get a $25 "returned check" fee for a $15.47 check.
I meant Quick Deposit from your phone but same difference.

My point was that he said:
I don't think it will bounce,  but the teller isn't supposed to accept it. .
so I suggested
Chase quick deposit?

Online bubkiz

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #17 on: January 31, 2013, 02:45:40 PM »
I meant Quick Deposit from your phone but same difference.

My point was that he said:so I suggested

Thank you very much.

Offline plane.love

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #18 on: January 31, 2013, 04:30:26 PM »
If anyone is interested, there are alot of shaylas with writing checks for charity, especially with writing "void after 30 days" relating to the fact that once you write the check you set aside that money for tzedaka. Even if its not cashed that money was set aside for tzedaka and could be problematic.

Offline Yeki89

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Re: Warning about giving checks to unknown people collecting tzedakah
« Reply #19 on: January 31, 2013, 04:32:54 PM »
There is also shaylos about laundering, stealing and other wrongs the meshulachim do.

This is how we prevent these things from happening.

Additionally the money was only given al semach that he will take it in 30 days, otherwise limaphraya its nisgaleh that it was never given.