Counterfit Check
By desertrose16
@desertrose16 (600)
United States
February 2, 2012 9:45am CST
I am sure that everyone has gotten an unexpected check in the mail in a large amount. I have. I read in a free newspaper that a man got a check for over $2,000. He went to cash it. The teller noticed the check was fake so the bank called the police. That is going way to far! What the bank should have done is taken the check and began an investigation with the FBI. How can any bank call the cops and have a person who is unaware that the check is printed on someone's home computer? I found that out because I was told that the check I had gotten was fake and printed on a home computer. What I have done in the past, is taken the check to the bank letting them know I got a check that may be fake, the took it and said they would investigate. That is what every bank should do instead of arresting anyone who is innocent of any wrong doing.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@yanzalong (18987)
• Indonesia
2 Feb 12
It wass the mistake of the bank officer who called the police. He should have asked questions to the person who brought the check. The cops who arrested the person was also stupid. He could be temporarily arrested for further investigations but accusing him of printing the check at home was still baseless.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
2 Feb 12
The bank followed proper procedure. I doubt the guy was arrested if he was innocent. They have to ask questions so that they can investigate. If the cops arrested him without some sort of evidence that he is the one that made the check then they were wrong but the bank did nothing wrong at all.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
2 Feb 12
Desert,
They don't arrest everyone that has a fake check or bill. They really don't. They question them and get their contact information and then they let them go so that they can investigate. Often they call the FBI in on these cases. There is a difference between being questioned and being arrested. It isn't unusual to bring someone in for questioning in any crime case even if they are just a witness. Any store that I have worked in, we are told to called the cops in the case of counterfeit checks or money.
@desertrose16 (600)
• United States
2 Feb 12
It is wrong to arrest a person who gets a counterfit check in the mail. A responsible bank would take the check and start a PROPER INVESTIGATION! Arresting an innocent person can lead to getting people in trouble. There were no chagres filed! Arrest everyone who does print counterfit checks at home not the one who the phoney checks are sent too! The bank was very wrong! INVESTIGATE INSTEAD OF ARRESTING EVERY PERSON WHO BRINGS IN A FAKE CHECK!
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
2 Feb 12
Hi Desertrose,
There is quite a difference in your story and the one in the article that you read. YOU informed the bank that you thought the check might be fake. That is why they checked it to investigate and did not call the cops. In the news story, the man went in to cash the check. In a case such as that, the banks correct response is to call the police. The police will question the man as to where he got the check and check his identity. If he is innocent then he has nothing to worry about. It is up to the police to involve the FBI...not the bank. I work in a store and if we get any counterfeit bills or checks, we are told to take them and ask the person to wait while the police are called. Even if the person is innocent, they need information that only the person trying to pass the phony bill or check can provide. If the person opts to run well, most of these places have cameras and their photo will be on file in the event of another incident. The bank followed proper procedure. They don't usually arrest these people unless they have good cause to believe that it was them that printed the money or check. They do bring them in for questioning. I know because I've seen it done.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
2 Feb 12
Well, perhaps it is different from State to State. Where I live, that is the policy of banks and stores in regards to the handling of counterfeit money and checks. I had once accepted a counterfeit bill and gave it to my boss to handle. I was informed by the police that I handled it wrong and that I should have called them immediately. I know a girl that went to pay for her things at Walmart and had a counterfeit bill and was held until the police came. They need to ask questions as to where you got the check or bill so they are able to trace it back. How can they do that if the person turning it in is let to walk away? Where would they begin their investigation?
@TinkerKitty (52)
• United States
2 Feb 12
They probably didn't know that he didn't know that the check was fake. There are people who purposely try to cash fake checks, which is illegal. If they didn't know the man was an innocent victim, then calling the police was the best thing they could do.
@tatzkie23 (770)
• Philippines
3 Feb 12
Hi desert,
Oh no that was just too bad. So did they really arrest the man? Maybe you're right, they should investigate first before accusing the person as the suspect. If he is innocent for sure they will set him free. So what happened to your fake check? Have they done some investigation?
