My husband and I just found out that our refund check for $1800.00 was stole from our mail box(we think) and cashed. After a 6 week investigation it resulted in finding out it was cashed 2 weeks ago. The check was issued to us on May 5th,06. It was issued to both my husband and I so how the heck did someone pull this off? The IRS says it does happen but I know that in Arkansas that both parties have to be there with ID to cash the check and with that high of amount it should be impossible! Has anyone had this happen? How long did it take to get a new check? This sucks!
2006-07-26 03:05:41 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
It will take you two or three weeks at least to get a new check.
Anyway, some check-cashing places don't really check IDs all that strenuously, so it's probably someplace like that that cashed the check, rather than a bank.
2006-07-26 03:09:22 · answer #1 · answered by Brian L 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What a horrible situation. It shouldn't be unbearably long to get another check, and whatever financial institution cashed the check will get what's coming to them! Ouch!
Mailbox theft has become a more significant problem the last few years. To reduce your chances of a problem, (1) always deposit mail in the official boxes inside the post office, (2) in the future, instruct the IRS to electronically deposit your refund into your bank account, (3) and, if you can deal with the inconvenience, you can get a locking home mailbox or even pay the few dollars to get a post office box.
Also, I am sure you have heard the advice experts provide each year, telling people to adjust their deductions through their employer so that they do not receive tax refunds. Although many people like getting a refund, the experts' advice is still good: Instead of loaning Uncle Sam your hard-earned money, you can take the extra money you receive throughout the year, place it in a bank account and then draw it out around tax refund season if you like.
2006-07-26 03:18:13 · answer #2 · answered by Someone with a free answer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Report the theft to the post office and to your police department. Theft of mail is a federal crime. The post office and the police department have investigative units to find where the check was cashed. They can then contact the managers at that location and check video surveillance that may have picked up a good image of the suspects. Those images might then be shown to you to identify any neighbors that you're familiar with.
I'm not 100%, but I don't think that the IRS will issue you a second check since the first one is cashed. It was stolen from you, sure. But that doesn't mean they'll give you more money. They'll likely expect you to eventually get your justice from the people who stole your check in the first place.
2006-07-26 03:15:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I really feel for you. I haven't had above happen to be, but I did have check fraud. My cleaning lady's son stole some random checks from my checkbook (ones from future books that I hadn't gotten to, so I didn't know they were missing). He then wrote 18 checks to a bank account he set up, stealing more than $15,000 from me. I was devasted. Thankfully, the bank caught this before I did, and a few weeks later the police caught him (thanks to a tip from his mother). 3-4 months later I got the money back from the Bank's insurance. But, it was very stressful when I went through this whole thing.
A few pieces of advice: 1) report to police & see if they can help, 2) report to IRS (and in both cases make sure you have proof e.g. finger prints (most checks actually have this techonology - I didn't realize it, but my checks did), false endorsement signature, video of the person cashing the check - usu. the bank can get this for you because the checks have a time stamp), 3) you may want to read Frank Abagnale's "The Art of the Steal." He is the guy who wrote "Catch me if you Can," and he now helps the government & banks prevent frauds. He may have some advice on how to handle above situation. Also, he has some wonderful advice on how to prevent different types of frauds. I think he has a whole chapter chapter related to IRS.
Good luck!
2006-07-26 03:17:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It never happened to me, but one time I was trying to just deposit my refund check and they wouldn't take it because my wife was not there. The manager came out and told me that it is because the IRS has a lot of power to recover the funds if there is a fraud. They said that they hate cashing income tax refunds because the IRS can come back as late as seven years down the road and recover the money. But that's good news for you though, I guess.
2006-07-26 03:10:34 · answer #5 · answered by double_nubbins 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you cab prove 100% that you didn't get the check and that it was stolen you will have a very high probability of getting your refund. The IRS (the highest power in the land ) definitely will be able to tell whether you got your check or not and if they come to the conclusion that you didn't get your check they will issue you a new one it'll just take patience.
2016-03-16 05:42:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You find an old expired driver's license, replace the information with your name. Make sure it is an out of state license and fix the date. You are reborn as a new person. It isn't hard. The new licenses are harder to fake.
You may get lucky on this because it involves the postal service. The police are unlikely to devote any time to this other than to fill out a report. The Postal Inspectors on the other hand get pretty nasty to those who interfere with the mail.
You also need to pull a credit report. I believe your social security number is on the check, though I am not sure. If so, your social security number was likely sold for identity theft as well. If you can block your credit report you may want to do that.
2006-07-26 03:10:08 · answer #7 · answered by OPM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have not already done it, report it to the IRS immediately. Once they investigate what happened with the check, they will issue you a new check. Normally, it takes from 4 to 6 weeks, but since there is no way of knowing how long the investigation will take, you may not see your money for a while.
2006-07-26 03:13:48 · answer #8 · answered by mpzones 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They can trace where it was cashed if your lucky they had vidio. If it was not signed by you it should be refunded unfortunately that sum of money may take some time good luck
2006-07-26 05:49:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have them trace it to where and when it was cashed, they should be able to pinpoint it, and they should have it on film, all check cashing places and banks have video
2006-07-26 03:09:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋