So I was sitting here Saturday afternoon, rubbing my sore belly and opening my mail when I noticed one from the Penna Dept of Revenue that was already opened. Did the Post Office do that? It has my address on it, but a different name at the top.
Inside was a letter from the state, indicating the check remitted for payment couldn't be cashed as the account owner neglected to sign it. According to the address on the check, these people live at my address, my apartment. Here's the letter and unsigned check below. (I blurred out their bank account information).
Stephanie & Paulson D. even went to the trouble of adding their phone number on the Memo line below PNC BANK. (I blurred that out too.)
Oh good, it would be easy enough to contact them and let them know about the check. Maybe they lived in my apartment years ago, and used an old check to make this payment. No... these are new checks, issued in 2026.
I call the phone number, I get Stephanie's voicemail. I kindly let her know a payment she made to the state was rejected as she didn't sign her check, and it was returned to me as she used my address as her mailing address. And my address is printed on her check too.
I wait a couple hours, she doesn't get back to me. I repeat this information and text it to her. I get those text indicators showing she received & read it. No response. What's going on?
So who are Paulson & Stephanie D anyway? Thanks to social media, I locate the couple right away in nearby Wexford.
According to Facebook, they describe themselves as a happy Christian couple. A happy Christian couple who are using MY home address instead of their own, on their own checks no less. Maybe they have several checking accounts.
And they won't respond to my call or text, even when I said "I have one of your personal checks here..." I think something criminal is going on. What to do, what to do.... I think if I don't hear from one of these so-called Christians today, I'm calling their bank's fraud department first thing Monday morning.
If they are using YOUR address on checks, I would call the police, today and the bank tomorrow. Bet it's a fake facebook account. Be careful, Doug. You don't need this crap right now! Kris in Ohio
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris. Well, the Facebook account is real. I've also found their Instagram and LinkedIn accounts, they have a lot of history and are tied together. But something crooked is going on for sure.
DeleteYep. If they call you, I wouldn't take that call. Save the letter for the police fraud unit. Do get not sucked in. If the bank opened the account they must have presented ID for YOUR address. False ID. Be really careful, Doug.
DeleteYou have no idea if those photos are real. They could have been stolen from other accounts to set up this fake persona. Yes, call the police and talk to someone in fraud and/or elder abuse (financial). These people, surely not the people in the photo are going to scam you with some madeup story and you will feel sorry for them...blah, blah, blah. I really don't want to hear about you on Dateline or 48 Hours. Stay away from the fraudsters, only talk to the police.
ReplyDeleteThanks dkzody,,,,
DeletePlease call the police now and file a report. Is she connected to anywhere where you have accounts? She appeared to be associated with Baird Wealth Management until last December. Could she have stolen your address and info? This sounds like phishing. Protect yourself, this was not a mistake or an accident. This is very upsetting.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bobi--I think she (or they) are only using my home address for now... didn't they realize it might get back to me? Hmm.
DeleteIf they forged your address and they can glean enough of your personal information, they can change your address to theirs or a PO box or something. This is how ID theft starts.
DeleteScary stuff, for sure. I will nip this in the bud.
DeletePS they now have your phone number too! You need to immediately go here and freeze your credit, protect your accounts:
ReplyDeletehttps://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/free-credit-reports
Thanks Bobi, I actually froze my credit accounts around 7-8 months ago for something unrelated. At least I'm covered there.
DeleteDoug, WHAT DID YOU DO in a past life................were you Hitler???? (Seriously, you poor fella! One ghastly thing after another!)
ReplyDeleteKaren in Pittsburgh
Haha... Karen there's a voodoo doll out there with my face on it. I'll be fine! 😄
DeleteAlthough your adventures make for fascinating posts, Doug, you need some boredom in your life. Geeze, I am puzzled and fascinated by what's going on. I agree that you should contact the authorities to report this. It's WEIRD. I'm trying to think of why they would have used your address. (I can't) I guess I don't have a devious mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret, and I'm with you--not a clue why they would do this. I DID contact their banks fraud dept which is open 7 days a week. My own local police only accept 911 calls on the weekends.
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