How to Report Fraudulent Check
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:36 pm
I recently found myself in this situation and I'm not sure of the best way to go about fixing it. I am the financial clerk in my ward.
A few weeks ago, my bishop was approached by a member of the ward who needed help paying for an upcoming therapist counseling session that was recommended to this member by another health professional. It was on short notice (the appointment was for the next day) and that particular office required payment up front (according to the member). The amount required was almost $500.
The bishop decided to cut the check from the fast offerings fund and told the member to give the receipt to him immediately after the appointment. The check was made out to "Dr." so-and-so.
The member was then arrested within a day or two for unrelated violations. The bishop called the group at which the therapist supposedly worked and that office had never heard of Dr. so-and-so. The bishop tried to visit the member at the county jail, but the member refused the visit. We had the member's mother, when she visited the member in jail, ask if the check had indeed been cashed. The member's reply was that the check had not been cashed and was still in the member's possession.
The next week, we saw on the monthly financial report that the check had been cashed (and the member was still incarcerated and remains so to the present). So now we are 95% certain that this member has defrauded the ward. We haven't been able to give the matter the attention it needs because of tithing settlement, but I would like to try to clean it up before the end of the year.
Does anybody know how to request a copy of the endorsed check? What steps can I take to find out where the check was cashed, and other important information? Most importantly, how do I report this incident? Thanks for your help.
A few weeks ago, my bishop was approached by a member of the ward who needed help paying for an upcoming therapist counseling session that was recommended to this member by another health professional. It was on short notice (the appointment was for the next day) and that particular office required payment up front (according to the member). The amount required was almost $500.
The bishop decided to cut the check from the fast offerings fund and told the member to give the receipt to him immediately after the appointment. The check was made out to "Dr." so-and-so.
The member was then arrested within a day or two for unrelated violations. The bishop called the group at which the therapist supposedly worked and that office had never heard of Dr. so-and-so. The bishop tried to visit the member at the county jail, but the member refused the visit. We had the member's mother, when she visited the member in jail, ask if the check had indeed been cashed. The member's reply was that the check had not been cashed and was still in the member's possession.
The next week, we saw on the monthly financial report that the check had been cashed (and the member was still incarcerated and remains so to the present). So now we are 95% certain that this member has defrauded the ward. We haven't been able to give the matter the attention it needs because of tithing settlement, but I would like to try to clean it up before the end of the year.
Does anybody know how to request a copy of the endorsed check? What steps can I take to find out where the check was cashed, and other important information? Most importantly, how do I report this incident? Thanks for your help.