credit union escapades.

So I went to the CU and sat down at a desk and everything!

I printed out the strange transactions and told her the tale. She said that the account number was probably "miskeyed" and that she was going to check to see if there was someone by that name at the CU. After typing and looking at the screen, she decided to speak to the manager.

She came back and told me that they thought it was a series of errors and if anything malicious were going on, they probably would have drained my account. (I have very little $$ in the credit union right now, so even if they had drained it, it wouldn't hurt me much to wait for the funds to be returned).

I said to her: "so, if these were errors, why didn't the CU Service Center contact UMCU to notify them of these transactions?" If there had been notations on my account, I still might be curious, but I wouldn't think something nefarious was going on."

The rep agreed that enough time had passed (this all occurred on 6/25) for there to be notations or communication between service center and CU. She said that she thought the person doing the transactions hadn't realized the error, but she retracted that after recalling that the deposits were made and then withdrawals were made right after.

So, the manager recommended an account number change. I have had this account number for several years and had memorized it. oh well. I'm moving anyway. So I am getting a new acct number, they are waiving the printing of a small box of checks (yeah, they better waive that fee).

At the end, I asked her: will there be an investigation of this? She went to the manager again and they called security who will be looking into it. I have been a customer for years and never had a problem, so I am not giving them the side eye at this moment, but I don't exactly feel comfortable. Luckily this is not my main bank account or I would be losing my shit.

Luckily this is not my main bank account or I would be losing my shit.

Word on that. I'm glad they figured out it was nothing nefarious.

Well, they're assuming that anyway. I think the number change is a good idea, and they need to be taking a hard look at internal controls.

Good for you le n for holding the line. And better to get a new account number, just to be safe.

When I go to a credit union that isn't mine and cash a check, they deposit it, then withdraw it, so it could have been someone cashing checks with the wrong account.

But, better safe than sorry.

Ooh, DE, that's good info. I have no idea. I didn't even know I could go to another credit union.

And as always, you shouldn't cash checks that your account can't handle!

Yup, you can go in and ask if they do "share branch"--assuming your home CU does. I actually need to go deposit a check today.

I think the heat metabolizes my motivation, leaving it only capable of compelling me toward the freezer for a creamsicle. It hasn't hit 100 yet, though, so I should try to get something done.

The fact that I just saw a very similar thing happen on my account, and I've now heard of it happening to at least two other people at totally different banks makes me think this is part of a new loophole that has been found and it's a way to test for valid accounts leading up to cleaning them out. It tests with a relatively large amount of money, then puts it back so that the balance doesn't show a change right away.

The BofA fraud agent I spoke to said he'd seen in before and that it was usually a percursor to fraud.

Didn't get to sleep until after 1 am. There is not enough TGIF in the world. Only five hours of work to go! I probably won't get to deposit my paycheck today, which sucks but oh well.

An acquaintance of mine (both played rugby at same school but I played much earlier) has joined our crew at work! She's so awesome to have. Competent and chill and trustworthy. Yay!