Nov 20, 2024
Residents at London Townhomes in Southwest Atlanta are grappling with an unsettling problem: their rent checks have disappeared, and they're being told they need to pay rent with new checks. To make matters worse (and more mysterious), the leasing office, which might have answers, has been closed until further notice.
According to a report from Channel 2 Action News, several tenants say their rent payments vanished after being placed in the designated dropbox. Despite assurances from the assistant manager that the checks were collected from the dropbox, no one can account for where they went. Most of the renters are seniors on a fixed income and say they can’t afford to pay double the rent. Fortunately, the missing checks haven’t been cashed, but there’s still concern about what happened to them.
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“It’s not fair,” said one renter, who spoke to Channel 2 Action News anonymously for fear of retaliation. “I’m worried about where my information is, and they don’t know where the check is.”
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According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), from February to August last year, it received 15,417 reports from 841 financial institutions on mail theft-related check fraud, amounting to more than $688 million in reported suspicious activity. After checks were stolen from the U.S. Mail, 44% were altered and then deposited, 26% were used as templates to create counterfeit checks, and 20% were fraudulently signed and deposited.
What can happen next?
In most cases, money orders that haven’t been cashed can be canceled easily if you retain the receipt. Things may be more complicated if the money order was stolen and cashed but there are steps you can take with the issuer and law enforcement to retrieve your funds.
Others tenants who used personal checks report being charged fees by their banks to cancel them. Most banks charge around $30 to stop a check. If you don't contact your bank in time to stop the payment and thieves have your check, they may attempt to use chemicals to alter its information and cash it. Monitor your bank account carefully and if you notice the check has been cashed, you should immediately report it to the bank and police. There is also a danger of criminals using the information on your checks to steal your identity or create counterfeit checks, so you may have to freeze your bank account.
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How seniors can protect themselves
There are several steps renters can take to be proactive in case something like this happens to them. Always keep a close eye on your bank account statements. Make sure to document and save everything, including when you pay rent, rent receipts, written or canceled checks, and money order receipts. This information can help cancel payments or support a legal claim.
Some ways to protect yourself from check fraud include using a black gel pen, never sharing bank information publicly, and using paper checks only when there's no alternative.
In case of problems related to rent payments, you can also consider contacting your local consumer protection or tenant advocacy group. Many organizations, including the Housing Justice League, offer assistance to low-income renters, including guidance and legal support.
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Danielle is a personal finance writer whose work has appeared in publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love. She’s especially passionate about helping families and kids learn smart money habits early.
