Hey, there! Log in / Register

Who needs an ATM skimmer when you can snare checks from mail boxes?

By adamg on Thu, 10/13/2016 - 4:22pm

The Dorchester Reporter reports police think somebody's using a gizmo to trap and retrieve check-containing envelopes from USPS mail boxes in the area around Ashmont and Peabody Square.

Neighborhoods: 
Dorchester
Topics: 
Crime
Free tagging: 
Peabody Square


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

By Dani B. on Thu, 10/13/2016 - 9:27pm.

What's a check?

up
Voting closed 0

By EM Painter on Thu, 10/13/2016 - 9:50pm.

without giving $35 to paypal

up
Voting closed 0

By Original poster on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 12:48am.

And I've never had a landlord that accepted any form of payment besides a personal check.

I write very few of them, but my husband and I do have to do so on occasion.

up
Voting closed 0

By Ron Newman on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 9:21am.

which will start out sending out paper checks to recipients, but I think will urge them to sign up for electronic deposit eventually.

up
Voting closed 0

By R Hookup on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 10:03am.

pay by PayPal, direct transfer to my account and bank check. It's not ideal, but I get paid (and no fees to be paid by me).

up
Voting closed 0

By cybah on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 1:04am.

Yeah but these idiot criminals do not realize that the laws surround check fraud are much harsher than credit cards. Since checks are a much older system, like almost a century, the laws have kept up with checks.

Most banks now will give you an option to pick up the checks at a branch than having them mailed due to theft.

Fun Factoid: in terms of identity theft, writing a check WORST thing you can do. All your information is right on the check, and the controls on EFTs are much less than credit cards. It's very easy to have theft with checks. Very easy.

up
Voting closed 0

By Wiffleball on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 7:59am.

I remember the Old Days when writing a check meant some poor clerk writing down everything on it, including the driver's license number.

More than once I saw checks where people had tried to speed up the process by having that stuff pre-printed along with their name and address. I once saw one pre-printed with driver's license and social security numbers.

up
Voting closed 0

By R Hookup on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 10:04am.

When I was in the Army, having SSN on your checks was pretty common. It's the only way you could use on on post.

up
Voting closed 0

By johnmcboston on Fri, 10/14/2016 - 1:09pm.

Screwing with the USPS is a federal crime, and they don't take it lightly...

up
Voting closed 0