Current Events > Somebody deposited money into my checking account

(+) Yeah! (+)

A $200 cash deposit. On the bank's site I can see pictures of the deposit slip, it's super messy (they wrote my name in the date line and crossed it out) and they couldn't even manage to spell my name correctly. I'm at a loss as to the purpose of this and where they got my account information.

pls CE, explain to me why someone goes to the trouble of stealing my account information only to give me money
idgi

Sounds like a scam but idk how it'd work

You must have a guardian angel with some extra cash.

its a scam. do not withdraw it.

Withdraw 199! That'll fool 'em!

Might want to alert your bank.

PMarth2002 posted...

Might want to alert your bank.

yeah I sent a message disavowing any knowledge of it, hopefully they can at least make sure nobody takes any money from the account
...you think they'll let me keep the $200?

The scam is that someone will contact you saying "oops I transferred money to you, please send it to me back", and when you do the check will bounce and you'll be on the hook for it.

Anony1125 posted...

...you think they'll let me keep the $200?

No, the check will bounce.

Literally reach out to your bank tomorrow/Monday.

The bank can provide you with an image of the check if youre curious.

Hospy posted...

The scam is that someone will contact you saying "oops I transferred money to you, please send it to me back", and when you do the check will bounce and you'll be on the hook for it.

except they didn't transfer money to me
they went to a bank, filled out a deposit slip with my information, and gave the bank $200 to put into my account
I just don't understand ... why

If they can deposit the munny unto your account, they can probably withdraw it.

Priere posted...

If they can deposit the munny unto your account, they can probably withdraw it.

yes, exactly
so ... why didn't they do that instead?
now I'm tipped off to something weird and have notified the bank, it makes no sense

Anony1125 posted...

except they didn't transfer money to me
they went to a bank, filled out a deposit slip with my information, and gave the bank $200 to put into my account
I just don't understand ... why

Assuming it's a scam (I don't understand what else it would be), I would hypothesize it's counterfeit cash and they used the drop box. If/when they check the money it'll be reversed from your account.

Priere posted...

If they can deposit the munny unto your account, they can probably withdraw it.

Taking money out of an account is a lot harder than putting it in, putting it in all you need is the account number.

Anony1125 posted...

yes, exactly
so ... why didn't they do that instead?
now I'm tipped off to something weird and have notified the bank, it makes no sense

Who knows.

Maybe they were just testing the waters to see if the info was good.

Why 200? Maybe they wanted to get your balance to a specific amount before they did something else to it.

On a serious note yea, I'd definitely consult your bank. Maybe they were just seeing if it was an active account and testing the waters by depositing money first instead of just taking a little out and seeing if you'd notice? *Confused face*

Huh weird that Priere and I used the same slang lingo there lmao

If it's not a banking issue you're perfectly in the clear to take that 200$ and do whatever you want with it. If someone contacts you with some story you just laugh at em.

Kamil posted...

Huh weird that Priere and I used the same slang lingo there lmao

Now people will think we are alts.

The conspiracy thickens!

Anony1125 posted...

except they didn't transfer money to me
they went to a bank, filled out a deposit slip with my information, and gave the bank $200 to put into my account
I just don't understand ... why

Did they deposit with a check?

ExistentialFear posted...

If it's not a banking issue you're perfectly in the clear to take that 200$ and do whatever you want with it. If someone contacts you with some story you just laugh at em.

No, they are not. 99.99% chance it was a cheque that was deposited that WILL bounce.

what's the scam though? how is the scammer profiting from that?

Naysaspace posted...

what's the scam though? how is the scammer profiting from that?

If you simply withdraw it? Nothing. The check bounces and you ended up taking $200 of your own money out of the bank

ExistentialFear posted...

If it's not a banking issue you're perfectly in the clear to take that 200$ and do whatever you want with it. If someone contacts you with some story you just laugh at em.

please do not take this advice because it couldnt be more wrong if they tried. im convinced this person has never had an actual bank account of their own

got an answer from a bank representative

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/8/3/AAO7dSAAE2ZX.png

So I guess it's just someone with a name very close to mine, and the teller accidentally entered my account number instead of his? I guess that makes sense, though it's a pretty boring conclusion.

You did the right thing TC. Whilst I can't speak for the US banking system, here in Australia you can be charged with fraud for taking money that isn't yours, even from your own bank account. And any monies deposited via cheque are not available for use until the cheque clears, usually within 2-3 business days.

As for someone having your banking details, I give out my banking details all the time for my business. People can't do anything other than deposit money into my account, and even if they do that over the counter the teller won't provide them with an account balance if they request a receipt.

How did they deposit it into your account? Any cheque deposit for my account requires my bank debit card or my login credentials on the mobile app.

Someone once got ahold of my card information and ordered a fuckton of pizza. I was given $500 in compensation and I was allowed to keep it.

I was going to say someone probably just wrote the wrong account number. But it is possible it was the name that was similar and a teller screwed up. Scary, but plausible.

When I was pregnant with my son, another pregnant person with the same name was using the same OB/GYN office. The office once charged me a co-pay I didn't owe because they pulled the wrong file, and that other person with my name had different insurance. We finally figured it out after a couple of months.

It's especially strange because my first name has a less common spelling, and my last name isn't all that common in its spelling, either.

But sometimes weird things do happen. Just make sure you stay on top of things and make sure the bank takes care of it.