I'm Really A Fat Black Woman With Missing Teeth
Somebody made up a fake California driver's license in my name and has been siphoning my checking and savings accounts this month.
It was a fat black woman in her mid 40s with missing teeth, I was told -- in the final hours of my deadline, when the Bank of America bank manager from Dixon City, California thought to call me to ask if I'd "noticed fraud on (my) account."
I just got my statement in the mail, and would've looked at it tomorrow, post-deadline, along with paying my bills -- or attempting to -- with money now in the possession of Latasha or whomoever. Instead, this bank manager, AFTER dispensing $1,500 of my money to the thief on Friday, decided, Tuesday, to do a little (long over-)due diligence, and call me.
Did the bank take a look at this woman with only a fake driver's license, not any other identification in my name -- a woman with a big open space where her front teeth are supposed to be, and surely other like details -- and think to check whether she might be a crack whore, and not me?! Nope! Not until she'd siphoned out a good bit of my book advance, with the help of the bank. As in, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
Their response, until today: "Thank you for doing business with us, Madame Crack Whore!"
I'll get the money back -- it's all from this month's statement's checking and savings -- but I find it incredible that I can't get my own money out without giving them my dead grandma's blood type, plus the name of her elementary school...yet some lady with only a fake driver's license, and a serious need for dental attention, can stroll into some bank in Dixon City, California, and another one in Auburn, California, and another in Garland, Texas, and another in a nearby Texas city before that, and withdraw piles of money from my account with a phony license with the wrong birthdate on it! (So the Dixon City bank manager told me.)
The teller looked at the discrepancy, I guess, and thought, "Mmm, interesting!" Or something equally thoughtful. (The DMV says nobody's applied for a new license in my number, but couldn't tell me much else. I have to call their fraud people tomorrow -- I was too busy scurrying over after my deadline to the bank.)
I'm going to get my money back, but I'm furious at the level of stupidity at the bank, which allowed me to be victimized like this. Besides the license dates not matching, the bank manager in Dixon City also told me they couldn't access signature or other information on file at my bank. Well, gee whiz, by no means waste 12 cents on a long distance phone call. Just hand over thousands of dollars!
As for whether you look at a woman going around with teeth missing and wonder, "Gee, I wonder if that's her thousands of dollars she's trying to take out with ONLY a driver's license with an unmatching date," the bank manager said something along the lines of "We don't like to judge people." Well, why the hell not?! I judge people every day. If I see a wiry guy with crazy eyes strutting down my street with a needle hanging out of his arm, I'm going to cross the street. Aren't you? No...surely you wait and see whether he holds you up with a piece of broken bottle, because, hey, you don't want to judge people.
How did somebody get my license, when I'm super-super stingy with the number? I don't rent cars, and upon reflection, only the bank, my car insurance company, and the DMV have that number, as far as I can recall. Hmmm...the DMV? From The New York Times in August 3, 1997, "Fake Licenses Tied to Bribes In California":
Investigators say the quest for a counterfeit-proof driver's license has spurred a black market in which state workers issue fraudulent licenses in return for bribes of $200 to $1,000 each.The California Department of Motor Vehicles fears that at least 25,000 fraudulently issued licenses are on the street. Seventy-nine employees have been dismissed in the last 19 months, and investigators estimate that 250 of the department's 8,000 employees may be involved in the scam.
The California driver's license, held by 20.2 million motorists, is a basic identification document and gives people access to other forms of identification. Licenses are used as proof of identity for everything from welfare applications to bank accounts.
The California card incorporates numerous anti-counterfeit safeguards, including holographic images, coding and layering, to make it all but impossible to duplicate.
But the increased difficulty of counterfeiting licenses means that people unable to obtain them legitimately, including undocumented immigrants and people with revoked licenses, try to buy them by bribing clerks.
''Ironically, as our documents become more tamper-proof, it's become more of a problem,'' said the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, Sally Reed.
Ironically? Ironically? You get your bank account turned into an ATM without a password and bask in the irony, Sal.
I also vaguely recall something about my license number -- maybe giving it out to the bank in their paperwork -- when I put money into my IRA in April, but I can't be sure. But, basically, I'm one of THE most careful people about my personal information (don't give out my phone number in public, cover the ATM pad while punching in my numbers, pay for almost everything with one credit card, never using a debit card, etc). How this person got my account number is a mystery to me.
Now, there is this I found on the Internet:
With that fake drivers license, that fraudster becomes YOU. All he need do is write a bad check drawn on another bank's bogus name account set up for that purpose, with the victim (you) as payee. He then walks into (in my case) a Wells Fargo branch and, impersonating the victim, cashes the check. When the check bounces, Wells Fargo (probably others, too) simply debits the victims account.
In my case, the woman at the bank checked and found no bounced checks like this.
Oh, by the way, the woman who helped me file my claim in the bank branch told me she deals with a person with a claim like mine every day. One a day, on average...and the bank is still behaving like they're running a neighborhood lemonade stand?!
This is eating my life. My time, my peace of mind, and while I have a credit freeze, I'm still nervous about other ways this toothless bitch may have used this driver's license.
The bank won't release the video footage of this criminal to me: get this -- "privacy issues." Yes, the woman financially ass-rapes me, and we're worried about her "privacy." But, it's possible I can hire a detective and get it, and Emmanuelle Richard, who's just getting or has just gotten her P.I. license in D.C. is going to be one of my first calls tomorrow.
P.S. I checked out the population of Dixon City, California. 311 "African-Americans." How hard, if this criminal is a resident, do you think it'll be to find one fat, 40-something black lady with missing teeth? I mean, how hard for me, not for the police and bank investigators, who surely don't really care about such cases...or they'd be doing something to prevent them!
How awful, Amy!! I check my account online every day to make sure there are no mistakes, as there was one in the past. You just gave me another reason to check. I hope it all works out for you. Knowing your tenacity, though, I know it will. What a pain, though.
Maggie45 at May 28, 2008 1:39 AM
Thanks so much. The police officer manning the desk at the local police station was kind of stunned by my reaction to this -- how absolutely energized I am about seeing justice done.
He said, "It's the bank's problem now," and told me I couldn't make a police report until I got a letter from the bank about this. Oh, and he also said credit freezes don't really work and lauded that Lifelock scumbag, whose identity has reportedly been stolen multiple times, thanks to those annoying ads where he recites his SS#.
As for this thing, I take it personally, and besides, this woman still has a license with my name on it. I wonder what else she could do with it.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 1:48 AM
Well, for one thing - thanks to a Federal mandate, said woman could fake the ID of someone at Savannah River Site, Sandia, Los Alamos, etc., and stroll right onto Federal nuclear research property - or a military base. Or Kennedy Space Center. The badge I have was the product of an actual, personal research effort by an investigator, who interviewed a dozen people and checked all of my papers to make sure of who I was and where I came from. It will be replaced by a thing you can get with two forms of what passes for ID. I can fake a Social Security card and a driver's license and get the new "USAccess" badge.
Morons.
Radwaste at May 28, 2008 2:24 AM
Umm - you're not doing business with that bank any more, are you? I mean, my credit card co. called me within one hour of a use of my number, and the thief didn't succeed in getting any merchandise. So some places are better than others, possibly.
Radwaste at May 28, 2008 2:27 AM
Our local New Times did a story on the life lock founder. Seems the guy stole his own fathers identity. I'll see if I can dig up the article
lujlp at May 28, 2008 2:55 AM
Bugger!
And the bank manager said We don't like to judge people???!!!
Look forward to hearing what happens when Emmanuelle is on the case.
lizzylights at May 28, 2008 2:57 AM
Here are the articles
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-05-31/news/what-happened-in-vegas/
lujlp at May 28, 2008 5:17 AM
Here is the second article
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-07-19/news/money-for-nothing/
And here is a leeter to the editor on these articles
Can it get any worse? I'm a former employee of LifeLock, and I can honestly say that even I didn't want to sign up for LifeLock's services, and they offered them to us for free!
I was working as a contractor out of my home for them, and they never did a background check on me. They interviewed me over the phone, which took all of five minutes, and that was it. They have never even seen what I look like with the exception of my driver's license that I faxed over to them.
But I had access to everybody's Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, home addresses, dates of birth — everything. I had everybody's personal and confidential information and not once did they do a background check on me.
The office building may be, or look like, it's a highly secured company (I only know that from your article; I was never asked to come into the office), but, as for the outside contractors, there is no kind of security or guarantee that your information is safe.
Name withheld by request
lujlp at May 28, 2008 5:19 AM
Amy, I'm so sorry this happened to you, what a pain in the ass! We're going through kind of the same thing here in CT with People's Bank, only the NY agency that is supposed to provide "security" for the records is the one that "lost" the information. So far, my accounts are still good (I also check my info online every day), but I understand there's now a class action law suit against the bank and the agency they used. No one's contacted me about it so far, and as I said, my account is still good, so I've got a "wait and see" thing going on, but I will still check my accounts every day, and make sure nothing is amiss. Best of luck to you Amy, I hope the bitch gets caught. Better yet, that someone pops a cap in her ass.
Flynne at May 28, 2008 5:50 AM
It's simple business.
What's cheaper - forking over a few grand out of petty cash to pay Amy back, or defending the bank from some fat black bitch with an entitlement complex and a civil-rights attorney?
I had my Amex number snagged by some crook in some company's IT department and posted on the web. I was finding bogus charges from Dubai. They took care of those, but their account number policy is stupid, and the new numbers got compromised before I even started using the card. They called me to alert me to bogus charges, etc.
I ultimately had to cancel the card and re-apply. And the joke's on them, since I got a new account with half the interest rate.
Although I'd like to think that Amex's fraud department is populated entirely by large men with crooked noses, all with the middle name "The".
brian at May 28, 2008 5:58 AM
I had my ID lifted, and someone named "Lisa Taylor" used my ATM number to buy a bigscreen TV in a Sears in Fresno. She had no photo ID, and the security tape was useless.
But my bank, Citibank, was on the job in a flash. A lot more responsive than Sears.
Kate at May 28, 2008 7:47 AM
I'm in complete agreement with brian, it's a simple business decision. Not sure why Amy's so ticked, she got the banks money not yours. Her still having your license is irritating but since it's been flagged in the system there's not that much damage she can do.
vlad at May 28, 2008 7:48 AM
BTW Amy you could be the next star in "Diaries of a mad black women: The red bank heist"
vlad at May 28, 2008 7:50 AM
It's my concern because I 1. hate injustice, and 2. this woman is still walking around with a license in my name. Have I been breached in other ways? Not sure yet.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 8:28 AM
I am hard pressed to think of someone I would rather not piss off than Amy. I wonder if you were randomly chosen or picked because of something you wrote. In any event, this is gonna be good.
eric at May 28, 2008 8:50 AM
Chances are she's done with your ID as she's just after the free cash and she'll move onto the next one in her wallet when she finds out your bank account won't work anymore.
However, as far as I know, DL's aren't "flagged" anywhere so that if she tries to use it to get more ID to back up her false persona she could. Get a few other "easy" id's (I dunno...library card, Safeway member card, etc.) and then go after "easy" credit cards. Not VISA, MC or AMEX, but smaller retailer CC's. A good con artist will play that "don't judge me" thing pretty well and could build up her own Amy Alkon and then explain you off as the "bad" one and its all just a mix up with her. Or at least that's what I recall from a 20/20 or something like that. Being upset and keeping an eye out for ongoing fraud is a wise idea.
Two years ago I used my credit card at a busy pub. It sat with a number of tabs on the bar waiting for the bartender to get to them. Someone managed to swipe my card and return it to the pile without anyone noticing (or it was an inside job). Four days later, when I went to pay for our houseboating trip, I discovered it had been frozen because of all the charges and they couldn't get a hold of me (I was in the middle of a lake). VISA did take care of the charges, but it's scary to be caught unable to pay for something and wondering what sort of financial shape you've been left in!
One can't live in constant fear, but I am much more vigilant about watching my cards when they are in someone else's hands.
Can't wait for the Pink Rambler-esque article once you track her down!!
moreta at May 28, 2008 8:53 AM
I never leave my card or my paid, signed bill on the bar. I hand it to the bartender or waitress or wait until they pick it up. Sounds like yours was left in a pile by the bar/wait staff. Really awful.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 9:02 AM
> Can't wait for the Pink Rambler-
> esque article once you track
> her down!!
Word.
Crid at May 28, 2008 9:54 AM
Amy - "I'm going to get my money back, but I'm furious at the level of stupidity at the bank, which allowed me to be victimized like this."
I had a similar experience when someone in Germany got hold of my PayPal info. They ordered about $2,700 worth of video equipment.
But, what REALLY pissed me off is that even though PayPal detected a possible fraud, and alerted the vendor NOT to ship the equipment, they had absolutely no compunction about debiting the money out of my account anyway (I’m not sure if it was transferred to the vendor, or just went into some PayPal Purgatory – I asked, they refused to answer). I was unaware that anything had happened until my debit card was decline at the restraint where my wife and I had been dining (pretty damned embarrassing). I had to find out by going to my on-line banking, and seeing the large debit by PayPal, and calling to enquire myself.
I asked that the money be returned to my account, since I could confirm that it was a case of fraud, and no goods had been shipped. I was told that it would take two weeks to “investigate”, and then my money would be returned within 5-10 working days after the completion of this “investigation”. It took a matter of seconds to electronically take my money, but apparently they were going to have to send the money back by boat? So, their reply boiled down to, “relax, we caught the fraud, and you’ll get your money back in a month”.
Fortunately, my wife, an attorney, took over from there, gave them the legal down-low, and got the money back in just a couple of days. I went on-line to find out if this sort of thing was common, and found web-site after web-site of PayPal horror stories.
It seems they act only to protect their real customers – the vendors, and do little to nothing to protect buyers who use their services.
slwerner at May 28, 2008 9:58 AM
Just been on the phone with the Dixon police department. There are 311 black people there, and 84 in Auburn, the place she withdrew $2500 cash from on the 22nd. If she lives anywhere in the area, which isn't exactly Watts, with her missing teeth and fat ass, she shouldn't be so hard to find.
Also, here's a question for you: I want to get footage of this woman. The bank will only release it to the police, and not to a private investigator, but if I can get a subpoena, I may be able to get it. I haven't the slightest idea how I'd go about getting one to do this. Anybody know anything about that?
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 10:03 AM
NEVER, EVER have Paypal debit from your account. Always use the alternate method where you have it go on your credit card. It's in the part where you pay - you just have to look for it, the alternate option.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 10:04 AM
If you're pissed off now, wait until the ID thief gets caught. If she ever does. The "punishment" will likely be a slap on the wrist. If that. In Mass. we recently had a State Representative get his ID stolen by a guy who they determined had stolen scores of identities. I don't think the Perp did a day in jail. And after much huffing + puffing by the State Rep about changing the laws to carry more punishment. Nothing happened. Why can't they make this crime a felony with mandatory jail time?????
And don't bitch at the bank employees. Think about what they get paid. If they were any good they would be working somewhere that paid better. That's something to remember whenever you deal with poor service. It can save your blood pressure.
sean at May 28, 2008 10:07 AM
I'll post her picture from here to Taiwan, and put it in my book (about rudeness and getting justice, among other things).
By the way, for anyone going through this, the number to put an immediate fraud alert on your credit (from the Cal Atty. General's office): Trans Union - 800-680-7289
You only have to call them and they notify Experian and Equifax, but if you're a nervous person, you might want to call them anyway.
They'll mail you a copy of your credit report in about a week, too.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 10:29 AM
Looks like my decision to keep my Michigan driver's license after moving to LA was the right one.
UGH.
Also, I have a credit card to maintain a credit rating but I rarely use it (and NEVER for anything at a restaurant or bar) and pay cash whenever I can. I'm hoping this small dose of paranoia keeps me a little safer.
Probably not.
Redpretzel in LA at May 28, 2008 10:42 AM
> NEVER, EVER have Paypal debit
> from your account.
Say that again, slowly. Some of us use our paypal accounts every three years and don't understand the deets.
What hazard are you warning us about? What money is moving between which parties here? 'Splain.
Crid at May 28, 2008 10:43 AM
Also, do fraud alerts ping your scores with the agencies? Wouldn't surprise me if it did... There is no God, you know.
Crid at May 28, 2008 10:45 AM
Don't give your debit card details to PayPal EVER EVER EVER. Always use a credit card. No exceptions. EVER. Debit cards are tied directly to your bank account(s), checking and/or savings. Your credit card is not. NEVER give PayPal ANY bank information. Just don't do it.
Flynne at May 28, 2008 10:47 AM
Also...
Are you saying the woman didn't even have your driver's license number? That all she had to do was print your name on a card?
Crid at May 28, 2008 10:47 AM
Amy advises - "NEVER, EVER have Paypal debit from your account. Always use the alternate method where you have it go on your credit card. It's in the part where you pay - you just have to look for it, the alternate option."
Actually, I had set up a PayPal account with a credit card, but, like a chump, when PayPal "encouraged" me to do so, I set up my banking information with them as the alternative payment method. And, I only setup a PayPal account because one EBay vendor required it (again, the chump thing).
My chosen response to PayPal's handling of my matter has been to decide not to use their service at all, and to simply avoid vendors who require it.
And, I hope you don’t get the same “it’ll take some time” BS that I did in regards to getting your money back. BTW, has your bank told you how they are going to handle that?
slwerner at May 28, 2008 10:52 AM
OK, so, the key word is "debit", right?
You're saying don't use debit cards with Paypal. BUt credit cards with Paypal is cool?
Crid at May 28, 2008 10:56 AM
Things to understand about life:
1. Big banks and big business don't care about your problems. They care about their bottom line. If they make more money paying you back for these things rather than shelling out for tighter security etc...then this is how things will go. Your puny few thousand dollars are meaningless to them.
2. This applies to everything. i.e. there are some that seem worried about some strange sort of muslim world domination scheme. The muslim world is, for the most part, poor. The poor will never rule the world. The rich will always have the power.
The Kid at May 28, 2008 10:58 AM
Yes, Crid, credit cards with PayPal is okay, but NEVER debit cards, because your debit card is tied directly to your bank account. Actually, I don't like PayPal any way for any reason, but I had to use it when the group of us went to New Orleans; the coordinator set up the payments for the trip through PayPal. And it was okay, but I never use my debit card for any online stuff, only credit cards.
Flynne at May 28, 2008 10:59 AM
Crid asks - "You're saying don't use debit cards with Paypal. BUt credit cards with Paypal is cool?"
My personal mistake was to acquiesce to PayPal's “suggestion” that I give them my banking information in order to set up an alternative payment method. I had initially set up a credit card (not my debit card) as the method of payment I would use.
I never once used the direct account debit alternative for any purchase, yet, someone managed to get hold of that information anyway. PayPal also declined to explain to me just how that could have happened.
So, if you do chose to use them, do not give them any debit card info, as it amounts to giving up your bank account info to them. With a credit card, you enjoy a certain measure of added protection since the money that will be charged to you (even when PayPal suspects a fraud) is not money you had in your possession, but merely money you would be borrowing (making it the credit card issuers problem of being out the money for what ever time it takes to sort out).
The other thing I found out is that if PayPal puts a “fraud” hold on a purchase, your credit card company will be notified, and will be likely to notify you (by phone) as well. However, if the attempted fraud involves a debit from your bank, since they don’t offer 24-hour customer service phone centers, they will probably only mail you a notification.
slwerner at May 28, 2008 11:09 AM
"You're saying don't use debit cards with Paypal. BUt credit cards with Paypal is cool?"
When you use a credit card, there is always the option to dispute the charge. Both the buyer and the seller are Paypal's customers, but the CC company's only customer in this is you.
Steamer at May 28, 2008 11:24 AM
I don't buy stuff on eBay for more than a few $20s, number one, and I'm not giving somebody a funnel to my bank account; not if I can help it.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 11:34 AM
Amy - "...I'm not giving somebody a funnel to my bank account; not if I can help it."
Not even Fat Black Women With Missing Teeth?
What next? Are you going to start in on the funnel to the public's money that Latino state assembly men might want to use on their world wide adventures?
slwerner at May 28, 2008 11:47 AM
Good thing it wasn't a Mexican. Expect any day now that full amnesty will be offered to mexican identity theives (stealing the ID's that Americans won't steal).
Then, you will have to fight over what portion of the earning attributed to your SSN will count towards your retirement or theirs.
Smarty at May 28, 2008 11:58 AM
Bad lady does bad things. I think as punishment, she should be forced to walk around with those wax teeth people get for halloween, and the message, "Thief" should be neatly engraved on the chompers.
caroline at May 28, 2008 12:09 PM
I think she should be forced to lie in a shallow pool filled with cockroaches, plus jail time.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 12:20 PM
I'm on the line with "Cynthia," from B of A's claims unit. It's like talking to a philodendron, so I've asked for a supervisor. Want to get a letter from them -- and before the 48 hours they say they have to call me -- so I can file a police report pronto. You have to have something from the bank saying you were a victim of fraud before you can. Don't want this broad running around with a license in my name.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 12:25 PM
You have the power of the media ... Dixon cops should be able to round up this person and at least scare scumbags who do this kind of behavior...with a license she can open all sorts of accounts, its easy to buy fake licenses and socials. A SS# costs $150 in Texas.
zap at May 28, 2008 1:02 PM
I am pushing for that fraud letter - which they say I get after some investigation takes place. But, this isn't just a crime against the bank -- this woman has my I.D., and I want to pursue that and they're foiling me. This happened because of their completely ridiculously lax security measure, and I'm taking the hit on it -- lost a whole writing day, plus peace of mind, and it made me late for my deadline yesterday, and caused me to miss my French class, which I pay for. The last thing is minor, but why should I do that because somebody else doesn't do their due diligence? Or any of the rest?
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 1:22 PM
What happened to you was really bad. Your response to it, as well as the response of some of your readers, is rather racist. If it had been a fat white woman would you have included the racial information? Didn't take you to be a racist, but your blog posts certainly reads like it was written by one.
Anonymous at May 28, 2008 2:17 PM
Oh, how silly. I'm very, very, very white, due to the fact that I live like a bat. If the woman had been Chinese, I'd have blogged, "I'm really a fat Chinese woman with missing teeth."
The racist is you for thinking describing how somebody looks is "racist."
Should somebody writing about me omit that I have red hair and very pale skin?
Wait, we wouldn't want to be...hair-ist! After all, redheads are considered quite ugly in some places in the world, like in the U.K. Identifying me as a redhead...isn't that secretly telling people I'm ugly?
(Or some kind of silly shit?)
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 2:22 PM
Here's a graph showing the relative "security" of your ID. Yuck.
Radwaste at May 28, 2008 2:27 PM
Thanks so much for that, Rad. I needed the name of their publicity person on fraud/ID theft, and you gave it to me (Betty Reiss). Just love this quote from her in the piece:
"Protecting customer information is a top priority at BoA and we have multiple layers of security."
Let me know when you'll be putting them to work, Betty!
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 2:36 PM
> Your response to it, as
> well as the response of some
> of your readers, is rather
> racist
> (Signed) Anonymous
Are we supposed to admire the civil rights sensitivities of someone who doesn't have the courage to stand behind such an accusation?
That's liberal fascism: They wanna tell the world how things go, but they don't wanna be held accountable, even in anonymous fora.
(Questions to cridcrid at google email... Keep those cards and letters coming!)
Crid at May 28, 2008 2:55 PM
These jerks at BofA are holding me up at every turn from pursuing this woman running around with a license in my name in any sort of timely manner. First, they let this happy by having by handing out my money with abandon, then they hold my pursuit of the thief hostage in some phone tree.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 3:11 PM
Very scary! Sorry this happened to you! And, yeah, this person will just get a slap on the wrist. And do it again. I know two people who had their identities stolen, and they had to solve the problem themselves, basically, because law enforcement didn't care. And once the offender was caught, there was no jail time. Sigh. But if you want really nauseating, read this:
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080513_Feds_say_hair_extensions_led_to_arrest_of__Bonnie_and_Clyde_.html
It's Philadelphia's own "Bonnie and Clyde".
quizzical at May 28, 2008 3:16 PM
Amy, I'm so sorry you have to deal with this asshole stealing from you and the incompetence of the people who are supposed to be protecting you. What a nightmare! If anyone as cautious as you can get victimized like this, then I know I need to be more careful... thanks for the wake-up call and I hope justice is served in your situation as soon as possible!!
Debra at May 28, 2008 3:23 PM
What I need to get out of BofA is a letter, faxed to me, saying I was a victim of fraud. Not that they've heard there may be fraud and they'll investigate, but that I was a victim of fraud. This will take speeding up their process a little, but that's what the LA cop (when I went to the police station yesterday) and Dixon City cop (on the phone this morning) told me I need in order to file a report and to pursue this bitch in a timely manner -- which is the best shot for catching her.
That's because anyone could say somebody has committed fraud -- they need to have some proof of it to be able to chase somebody down. And my bank statements showing withdrawals in places I never go aren't enough.
Meanwhile, this woman could be arrested for a crime and booked in my name (yes, they're supposed to check the ID to see if it's real -- don't have a lot of faith in that)...all sorts of things could happen with her using my I.D., and forgive me BofA, if I'm not willing, like the rest of your customers (per what Claudia in their fraud dept just told me) to go like a curly little lamb to slaughter.
Amy Alkon at May 28, 2008 3:34 PM
See, now in the old days when the Italians ran things, a broad did this, she'd get whacked.
Now, you can't whack a broad without goin' up da river.
What's dis world comin' to?
brian at May 28, 2008 6:29 PM
Of course, that's why B of A is dragging their tail. They don't wanna be on the hook if you go and whack this broad. Not that you would, but the mere fact that you're pursuing it instead of fading into the background worries them that you might "take matters into your own hands".
AOL wouldn't give me the information about who set up an account in my name with my stolen card precisely because I said I was gonna whack the dirtbag.
I figure if someone sullies my good name, the least I ought to be able to do is whack 'em.
brian at May 28, 2008 6:32 PM
"Your response to it, as well as the response of some of your readers, is rather racist. If it had been a fat white woman would you have included the racial information?"
I was waiting for someone to say that! It was inevitable... Here's a clue: stating the truth cannot be racist.
Have a hard look at the usual media reports of crimes. Race is often omitted when describing black criminals, but generally not for anyone else. I remember one article specifically: a bank was robbed, and the police gave the newspapers a description of the guy who did it - specifically hoping the public could help find the guy. The papers published his height, weight, even the clothing he had been wearing - but refused to mention race. Saying he was black (which he was) would have been racist? Pathetic PC-driven incompetence.
bradley13 at May 28, 2008 11:32 PM
Amy - I'm not nearly the sleuth you are but I'm not half-bad when I've been had. Maybe you should contact the DMV about contacting the bank. Seems to me they'd have some interest in a fake license being bandied about. I checked the website. Here's a phone/email for media relations. You're media. You're writing about them. I think they'd want to know and maybe. . . investigate.
Main Office of Communications: (916) 657-6437 (media inquiries only)
DMVmediarelations@dmv.ca.gov
JulieA at May 28, 2008 11:38 PM
Thanks, Julia -- appreciate that...but the DMV fraud unit was one of my first calls this morning, actually. It turns out, since it isn't a license fraudulently ordered through them, just one ordered from overseas (or perhaps picked up around MacArthur Park, Emmanuelle Richard speculates), they aren't interested.
I spent the entire day getting stonewalled by BofA's Check Fraud Claims Department in Los Angeles (that's where my claim goes, too) on getting the one thing I need to make a police report and get the police looking for the woman: A letter from BofA saying I've been a victim of fraud (and not just the letter they keep telling me they CAN send me, one that says they're investigating fraud on my account).
Anybody can accuse anybody of anything, but without this letter, this woman is probably driving from bank to bank around the state or even the country, bleeding other people's bank accounts.
As for the race thing...again, what a load of steaming crap. And Criddy, you were absolutely right about the posting being "anonymous."
Amy Alkon at May 29, 2008 12:08 AM
Cool, here's some more: I hate his/her use of the word "rather."
Also, day-to-day financial stuff like this is good blogwork. All of us could use some more knowledge about this stuff, and when it's something we already know, it's easy to skip over. The Paypal thing was new to me (though it isn't a problem here, but it's a good connection to watch out for, and the warnings from y'all are appreciated)
Crid at May 29, 2008 12:53 AM
Amy,
Keep at it. It sounds like there is no enforcement on this in the law enforcement community because the crimes are outside what they have usually done, and the banks cover it. Plus, I think there is the idea out there that fraud just happens to people who are careless buying online, but from experience with a couple of friends who had problems, I don't think that is the case at all.
What gets me is there was a crime as real as if someone came along and stole a purse out of someone's hands, and it's all tied up neat and tidy and everyone forgets there was actually a purse snatcher just because the money got replaced by the bank or credit carrier? We have all heard of the term "victim-less crime", and now there is "perp-less crime"?
The trend of just letting crimes like this go by the wayside simply because banks and credit companies will cover is not a good solution at all. Covering just makes the thieves know there will be no retribution, all of us who take care of our own stuff end up paying for it all, and the people who got thieved feel like it was all some delusion because no one ever really wanted to go after the person that stole from them.
Good luck with it, Amy.
And thanks for the good laugh from your comment "living like a bat". That one cracked me up.
Ang at May 29, 2008 1:24 AM
Thanks, Ang -- I'm with you on that. Here's a remark I made in my statement I sent with my fraud report to them tonight (they finally faxed me forms for the report late tonight -- why couldn't they do that earlier? They had the account numbers, the fraud items, and the numbers for the fraud cases [checking and savings]). The customer is always last, and then some.
Anyway, here's that excerpt from my statement. ("He," below, is the cop manning the desk at the local police station):
Amy Alkon at May 29, 2008 1:31 AM
I'm so sorry this happened to you, Amy. Even more because I worry about this happening to me (so I take a lot of the same precautions.) I hope they get her, and if there are any crooked DMV person involved, I hope they get them too.
And even though I'm a (skinny) black woman, I didn't find your describing her to be racist at all. (I mean, she is fat, she is black, she is missing some teeth - how is that a value judgement, in and of itself?)
A few months ago, my apartment building was broken into, and several of the apartments were burglarized. Luckily, the woman across the hall noticed a guy knocking at my door. As she put it, he didn't look like he'd be a friend of mine, so she was suspicious (and I'm still grateful for that), and asked him who he was looking for. Turns out he was one of the robbers, checking to see if anyone was home. Later, when I asked the manager what did the guy look like (I wanted to know in case I ever saw him around again), he hesitated before saying that he was black. Which was probably the most obvious thing about him. (Then he went on to tell me his height, and that he had "bugged out" eyes.)
I thanked the manager for the description, but things are out of whack when people have to tiptoe around basic descriptions, especially of criminals. Just tell me the guy's black, if he's black (and whatever else you noticed), I'm not going to assume that you think all black people are criminals.
And once when I witnessed a pursesnatching by a guy on a bike, the first thing I told the police was that he was a black guy on a bike - since he was zooming by, and it was nighttime to boot, that's all the description I could give, besides his wearing a dark jacket.
Sorry for the long post, but it really bothers me. It's just so petty, especially compared to what this woman has done. I hope it never happens again to you.
soleil at May 29, 2008 2:08 AM
"All I need now is to live in fear that the police will someday pull me over for a rolling stop, and throw me in jail, if temporarily, confusing the slimebag with no teeth with me."
Please note that this becomes more likely each day it is assumed that identification is more positive, due to apparent, but not real, integrity in the construction of the ID cards themselves. If you get pulled in some backwater, you'll find that their zeal for enforcing the law is great, but keeping the ID database current is "somebody else's problem", you criminal, you.
Right now some nitwit could advance the case that there is no way to counterfeit a CA license, and that you used a disguise to defraud the bank to support your drug habit. You're so pale, after all, just like those "night people"...
It's so easy to promote injustice and blame others. Go get 'em!
Radwaste at May 29, 2008 2:26 AM
Suggestion: involve the Dixon City and (Solano?) county government. Suggest to them that a "mule", one of dozens of people possibly operating in their county, is engaged in a significant criminal enterprise. They might pressure the local bank branch in some way.
Radwaste at May 29, 2008 2:51 AM
Thanks, Rad. I really need a police report, actually, but Angelina Howard and all the others in the fraud investigations division are stonewalling me. I demanded that she have somebody from their legal department call me (an hour ago when I spoke to her). Nothing.
The longer I take to get a police report filed on this the more likely it is the woman will get away. These assholes at BofA not only allowed me to be financially ass-raped, they're not giving me what I need to protect myself.
Here's the latest:
I got a media person's contact number (at BofA Los Angeles) and started dialing random numbers in BofA's phone tree hoping to get executives to help me. Found one this morning! George Smith, imagine that! (Dialing the numbers for S-M-I-T-H and seeing whose secretary left their message, indicating that they're important enough to have an exec secretary).
His secretary was nice and helpful and said she'd try to get somebody on this.
Anybody got names and phone numbers for any bigwigs in the company? Or e-mail addresses?
Amy Alkon at May 29, 2008 11:03 AM
RE; Paypal/credit cards for online purchases.
I use a pay as you go credit card for online purchases. I keep no more than fifty dollars on it except when I am paying bills. Even then I just put the exact amount necessary to pay the bills. I only use cash to put money on it, so it isn't attached to any of our bank accounts.
I actually got the card to start working on my credit. It's rather a nice deal, because it only costs ten dollars a month and I never have to worry about getting ripped off. And it shows up as credit positive, even though I can't actually use it to spend money I don't have on the card. It was later that I realized we could also use it as a secure form of online payment.
As for the rest, couldn't have happened to a better person for fighting it through to the bitter end. I am ultimately really sorry that you're going through this, but I am looking forward to seeing how it unfolds. Kick some fucking ass for all of us!
DuWayne at May 29, 2008 12:07 PM
The latest: Betty Riess (betty.riess@bankofamerica.com) is useless. The slowest ever person from a corporation to respond to press inquiries.
I tracked down the names of one of their corporate counsel -- a guy named Todd Baskin -- after a commenter here (Thanks!) told me they'd never have anyone call me from the legal department. I figured out his e-mail address (I hope) based on those of others at BofA, and just e-mailed him the following:
Amy Alkon at May 29, 2008 12:29 PM
Whoops! Baskin e-mail came back. Now sending to these guys:
http://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=7327
Amy Alkon at May 29, 2008 12:38 PM
Heh heh! SCORE-O-RAMA! William Mostyn's e-mail doesn't work, but I have the correct one from Timothy Mayopoulos, executive vice president and general counsel! So the e-mail went through to him. Let's see if somebody at BofA gets off their big butt and actually starts being accountable for their lax security, and how it's impacted my life, and gives me the document I need to file a police report and go after this toothless, thieving bitch.
Just wondering: What about me says, after letting me be victimized once because of screwups on your end, it would be a really smart idea to let me be victimized again because it's easiest for people in your company to follow your standard operating procedure?
Amy Alkon at May 29, 2008 12:45 PM
Here's another nasty scam: A couple of years ago, a scam artist started using the LA Press Club online membership signup to donate small amounts of money, I think it was about $5 per pop, to the club. Suddenly, the club was getting hundreds of these small online donations. It turned out that a scam artist was simply "testing" his hundreds of stolen credit cards to see which ones had money on them, and using the Press Club donation/signup system to do it.
When Press Club Executive Director Diana Ljungaeus complained to law enforcement, they refused to investigate -- giving some stupid reason like the club was not the victim, or not enough money was involved. Diana finally managed to stop the scammer, but she had to pull a lot of strings to get the attention of the right people. Who knows how many innocent credit card holders got screwed by that scammer?
Jill Stewart at May 29, 2008 2:00 PM
Wow...that's just disgusting. I didn't know about that. That's kind of what's happened to me. All I want from BofA at this moment, besides my money back and besides a change in their joke security procedures, is a letter saying I was a victim of fraud so I can go to the police and file a report.
Maybe, just maybe, if I file that sooner rather than later, the police will have a shot of catching the thief while she's still around Auburn/Dixon, thus preventing others from being victimized.
Betty Riess, a media liason, is now "making some calls." But, the idea that I have to lose another writing day while using my journo skills to track down these corporate BofA people who hide lest they be forced to interact with one of the dirty, dirty consumers just burns me to the core.
Meanwhile, here's a photo of Timothy Mayopoulos, the corporate counsel whose e-mail address and phone number I tracked down:
http://tinyurl.com/69tmw2
He has yet to return my email, and his assistant, Hassiba Stooks, not sure on the spelling, sounded very suspicious when I called. A nice southern-sounding lady, Dot, answered the phone when I called back, and said she'd give Hassiba the message to call me back. Clock is ticking! No Hassiba!
Amy Alkon at May 29, 2008 2:07 PM
Hassiba, who just got real snippy on the phone with me, said Mayopoulos has referred this to some attorney in their department who "will be in touch with me" (shortly, I think she said). When I asked the person's name, and asked when, specifically, I'd hear from them, that's when she got snippy, and started talking to me like I was retarded, and said repeatedly she doesn't know who'd be calling.
So...some attorney will call me...no idea who, no idea when...despite my pointing out to Hassiba, Mayopoulos, and numerous other functionaries at BofA that there's some urgency to my making a police report -- as in, to stop this woman from defrauding other customers of theirs and others in general.
Why am I no longer surprised that every step of the way with BofA, it's like they're squatting over you, the consumer, and taking a big dump all over you?
Amy Alkon at May 29, 2008 2:19 PM
Amy - "Why am I no longer surprised that every step of the way with BofA, it's like they're squatting over you, the consumer, and taking a big dump all over you?"
Hate to say it, but, it sounds like they're giving you their version of "we have two weeks to investigate, then we'll see about getting your money back to you".
BTW, I had another question or two regarding how this imposter knew where you banked and what your account number was. I would suspect that knowledge of both of these two things would be necessary, at a minimum, for her to pull off this fraud.
So, anyway:
Did you ever lose a checkbook which might have got her to both? Did you ever make a purchase by check where someone made a photocopy of your check? Did you ever send a payment by check through the mail that didn’t make it to it’s destination?
Sorry to be so probing. I’m just curious as to how these people get the information that they would need to know in order to get started with such a fraud.
Did this woman start off with some small withdrawal, so she could get a transaction receipt showing your account balance, or did she just seem to know that you had that kind of money in your account?
I would think that when such a large dollar amount was involved that a teller would be required to either get some additional identification or have some higher-level approval before handing over the cash.
Maybe someday you’ll do an investigative report on your banks lack of security. Public exposure of their failed system might compel them to beef it up so as to protect their customers.
slwerner at May 29, 2008 2:56 PM
Way to go, Amy~!!!!! I said you have tenacity! You're my hero!
Besides, I can't stand BofA. Sock it to 'em!
Maggie45 at May 29, 2008 6:56 PM
Exactly who is your garbageman? The city, your boyfriend or just a friendly local transient looking for financial scraps? Better shred than bled.
Jay J. Hector at May 30, 2008 1:47 AM
Exactly who is your garbageman? The city, your boyfriend or just a friendly local transient looking for financial scraps? Better shred than bled.
Funny. Nice having you drop by. And I don't throw away or even shred bank statements, and if I did shred them, I'd burn them afterward.
Because of that, and because I don't use my debit card or give out information, and because of what the guy at the DMV told me about how lax BofA is with data, I think it's very possible somebody within the bank may have sold my information. And I suspect it happened after I went in there and filled out paperwork to deposit money in my IRA in early April (around April 9, I think). The fraud started April 14.
Amy Alkon at May 30, 2008 7:12 AM
I expect Amy will change banks after this. If there are any small, local banks left in the area, use them! They are likely to show a lot more interest in the well-being of their customers...
Actually, it's a good general principle: support small, local businesses, even if they are a bit more expensive. Find a nice, local coffee shop instead of Starbucks. Buy bread from a local bakery. Get beer made by a local brewery. It's often a bit more expensive, but it pays off long-term because these companies care about keeping your business.
bradley13 at May 30, 2008 8:19 AM
Do you realize that your Pajamas Media, Network blogger advertise with us has a advert for Bank of America right next to your post? It reads Chicago, Welcome to more Bank of America, click here for more. It does change periodically but I find it ironic.
Brian at May 30, 2008 8:54 AM
In a weird twist of fate, after writing to you (Amy) about something else entirely, my card was declined at a gas station across town. It was the most reputable of places so I dismissed it as nothing. Then it happened again at my doctor's office. Time to call the bank, I thought. Turns out, some shithead had gotten my card number and decided to charge $139 to some webservicesonlinemumbojumbo and my bank (WAMU) caught it immediately. Though I'll have to wait 7-10 business days to recieve another card, I was completely shocked that they'd caught it before I did as I keep pretty close tabs on my finances. Hope your next banking experience turns out better, Amy - I've never heard good things about Wells Fargo or Bank of America for that matter, but hopefully you'll find one that works for your protection instead of the theifs. Here's hoping. Thanks for your response the other day, by the way, I'll keep searching for a book or local psychologist to answer the question.
Abby at May 30, 2008 9:09 AM
Bank of America is FAMED for their stupidity!
Obi's Sister at May 30, 2008 11:19 AM
Here from Consumerist. You know your situation does suck, but you need to get a handle on your racist stereotyping.
BOA won't release the security tape to you because you might do something nuts like murder someone you think looks like the woman that stole your money, for which I'm sure BOA would somehow be held liable. However, BOA should be able to release the tape to the police.
And you really need to get over yourself with your implication that the police should go around racially profiling 40-something fat black women in Dixon City, CA simply to find your ID thief. The police do have higher priorities than ID theft you know.
Thrifty Femme at May 31, 2008 11:43 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2008/05/28/im_really_a_bla.html#comment-1552653">comment from Thrifty Femmebut you need to get a handle on your racist stereotyping.
Uh, racist stereotyping?
Can you please tell me how I'm "racist"? Is it because I merely give a physical description of the thief? Did you have your brain eaten by squirrels? Because you sure aren't engaging it in thought.
I've caught two people who've done crimes on me in the past, and gotten justice, no thanks to the cops: a guy named George Gomez, who stole my pink Rambler, and Leo Laine, who did a hit-and-run on my Honda Insight. Both were prosecuted, not murdered.
P.S. The LA Times wouldn't let me describe Gomez as Latino either. I don't hate Latinos. I hate car thieves, and will describe them to the fullest of my ability, down to the nose hairs.
Now, black women are a small segment of the population in Dixon City. Black women with missing teeth...do you think there are dozens of them?
If I made up a fake ID in your name and you wanted to describe me to the cops so they could catch me, would you omit the fact that I have red hair? Or would you use whatever you have to describe me that makes me stand out from the general population to help them catch me?
As for your remark: "The police do have higher priorities than ID theft you know," yes, and that's part of the reason I want to pursue this woman. She'll do it to somebody else, maybe you. If I can subpoena the tape, there's a good chance I can find her.
Frankly, since I believe BofA made a copy of my driver's license (presumably including the photo) when I started banking with them, and should have that and lots of other info of me on file, I found it hilarious that a woman like me, with skin the color of fresh typing paper, could be mistaken for a black woman by tellers who are supposedly using "multiple" means to protect customers from fraud. "Gee, Miss Alkon, quite the tan you've gotten!"
Amy Alkon at May 31, 2008 12:46 PM
Oh, and P.S. The ONLY reason I was able to catch Leo Laine, the hit-and-run driver, and have him prosecuted (I wrote up the details of the case to urge the prosecutor to take it to court, and then testified), was that Whole Foods, after some persuasion from me, released a copy of the tape of him doing it to me.
Guess what: The police are too busy to pursue hit and runs.
Maybe you can thank me that Leo Laine didn't hurt or kill somebody else.
P.S. If I tell you he's an old white guy, does that make me racist? And if not, if you think it's racist to describe the bank perp as a black lady, why not?
P.P.S. Want us to send over the Jaws of Life to help you pry your head out of your sigmoid colon? Just say the word!
Amy Alkon at May 31, 2008 12:49 PM
"She'll do it to somebody else, maybe you."
Thrifty Femme - and others - Amy should get a medal for citizenship, and not just for this current issue. You may think that justice is "somebody else's job". No. It's your job. You cannot just pay someone else to shoulder the responsibilities that are your price for the rights you enjoy.
If you think otherwise, I suggest that Jeff Snyder was writing about you. Defending yourself has never been "somebody else's job".
Radwaste at May 31, 2008 2:09 PM
Long-time reader, first time commenter.
I hate to scare you Amy, but a lot of police only care about names and birthdays when they're arresting someone, never mind printed IDs. Found this out the hard way when my fiance and I were denied on our housing application for "failing a criminal background check." Actually, the apartment itself couldn't even say why we were denied. They gave us a number to call.
I called the number and was told my fiance had a felony conviction on his criminal record. I freaked out, of course. I thought we were going to have to have a serious talk ("Why did you fail to mention you were a felon, sweety?") Then the lady I was talking told me to hold on the line a second. She called the security department. What she told me next has really bothered me ever since I heard it.
Most criminal background checks done by independent companies use your name and birthdate, NOT your social security number. Get arrested in some random state and don't have your ID? Just give the officers someone else's name and birthdate! Do your jail time, get released, and no one is the wiser, right? Sure!
...Except when my fiance and I go to apply for housing. We're both pretty diligent about protecting our identities, but it never occurred to either of us to do a 47 state background check on ourselves, just to see if any of our "friends" has used our name and birthdate for an out of state crime spree!
The company eventually admitted that they had made a mistake and we were approved. Not before they rented the apartment we wanted to someone else, though.
Homeless in Seattle at June 2, 2008 4:16 PM
Thanks for posting that. That's exactly what I'm afraid of.
Amy Alkon at June 2, 2008 11:09 PM
Amy,
Sorry to hear about this situation you have to deal with. But, may I be a guy for a second and take this moment to say that the picture above is oh so smoking hot!
:-)
PS. Hope this smooths over.
chillin at June 5, 2008 6:47 PM
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Pierre Eikenberry at October 4, 2010 3:17 PM
Banks are running crooked businesses and are fully protected by bank laws to protect them. It has been proved over and over that your money is actually never safe in any bank that is in about any country. More and more people do see banks simply as racketeering rings supported by Government lobbies that always make sure to please these fraudulent financial corporations. You place, invest your Dollars or whichever currency and they act like it is theirs, if they ever make a mistake you pay the stiff consequences and of course….the fees. Maybe it is time consumers start lobbying too and warn the bank managements that times are about to change. The carelessness with which banks act is unacceptable.
Carla Reyes at December 12, 2010 8:28 AM
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