I did not physically authorize them to send fraudulent check to my account, if I did it was under false pretenses. I have a police report, what can I do?
Contact your bank and put a fraud alert so that you are not robbed again. You will probably have to close the account and open a new one.
You understand that you should have never given anyone your account information correct? Do not do that again.
Have you contacted the organization and explained that you believe that you have been robbed and that you want your money back or you will be filing reports to all of the governing agencies that are involved with non profits? Do that and get names of everyone you speak with, first and last and ask for spellings, make notes of date and time and what was said in the conversation.
You are going to have to be proactive in protecting yourself, so start calling today.
Close that account and open a new one at a different bank.
In general if anyone wants to ever donate money to an organization, go to Charitynavigator.org and check them out first and tell the caller you'll donate to them online at their website (do not return any calls to them). I no longer answer any calls and instead let all calls go into my voicemail. This weeds out the solicitors and scammers (to a degree) and just unimportant calls. Back in the day before cell phones I used to tell the caller that I only donated through my church, told them to take my name off their list and then hung up. Or I asked them for their physical address (no PO Box!) and to identify who is the president of their organization (scammers can't answer these questions). Even if they do (which would be them lying), I never donate over the phone or to a door-to-door person. I always tell them I'll first need to check it out online and then will decide. Then I hang up or shut the door.
Just last week on my landline voicemail was a call from someone saying they were from Chewy.com (where I actually do purchase my dogfood online) saying there was a problem with my cc ending in XXXX (they gave my actual cc #). First clue this was a scam is that they called my landline. My actual Chewy acct is connected to my cell phone. Second clue was that the cc they quoted (last 4 digits only) was an active, not expired card and I went to my login there to check for a declined purchase or any evidence of a problem. There was none. Third clue was that I know Chewy would never call me for this info (as is the case in all legitimate businesses). Also, the IRS, Social Security, and Medicaid will NEVER call you -- they only send snail mail.
You honestly cannot do anything. Most fraud scams depend upon our ability to think we will get rich quick. Or that we can "help some poor unfortunate". That is to say they play upon your emotions. Anyone can send a fraudulent check to your account. If a check you don't want shows up on your account it is time to go to the bank and tell the bank you don't want that check, didn't order or ask for it, and suspect it is fraudulent. Your bank will follow up. And never never never never send the person who says "I am sending a check to your account but I need you now to send me (money order, game cards, whatever) in a lesser amount" blah blah blah any money of your own. If you have a religious organization you believe does good work then there are ways online to check their Assets, their charitable status, their holdings and etc. Then send them a donation. Do not enter into any games. Once you have bitten on a PHISHING line you are basically a dead fish. The police will collect the information, but this happens all the time and seniors can lose 100s of thousands to these schemes. So you reported it. It is unlikely you will see any money back. It is a hard lesson and I hope it wasn't a lot of money. Just because someone says they are in need, are a person of faith, are whatever on the phone, it doesn't mean they are truthtellers. Sorry you had this experience. It is infuriating, isn't it?
You understand that you should have never given anyone your account information correct? Do not do that again.
Have you contacted the organization and explained that you believe that you have been robbed and that you want your money back or you will be filing reports to all of the governing agencies that are involved with non profits? Do that and get names of everyone you speak with, first and last and ask for spellings, make notes of date and time and what was said in the conversation.
You are going to have to be proactive in protecting yourself, so start calling today.
In general if anyone wants to ever donate money to an organization, go to Charitynavigator.org and check them out first and tell the caller you'll donate to them online at their website (do not return any calls to them). I no longer answer any calls and instead let all calls go into my voicemail. This weeds out the solicitors and scammers (to a degree) and just unimportant calls. Back in the day before cell phones I used to tell the caller that I only donated through my church, told them to take my name off their list and then hung up. Or I asked them for their physical address (no PO Box!) and to identify who is the president of their organization (scammers can't answer these questions). Even if they do (which would be them lying), I never donate over the phone or to a door-to-door person. I always tell them I'll first need to check it out online and then will decide. Then I hang up or shut the door.
Just last week on my landline voicemail was a call from someone saying they were from Chewy.com (where I actually do purchase my dogfood online) saying there was a problem with my cc ending in XXXX (they gave my actual cc #). First clue this was a scam is that they called my landline. My actual Chewy acct is connected to my cell phone. Second clue was that the cc they quoted (last 4 digits only) was an active, not expired card and I went to my login there to check for a declined purchase or any evidence of a problem. There was none. Third clue was that I know Chewy would never call me for this info (as is the case in all legitimate businesses). Also, the IRS, Social Security, and Medicaid will NEVER call you -- they only send snail mail.
Report the fraud to your bank.
Go to www.bogleheads.org ( a really good financial website) and ask for advice there.
If you have a religious organization you believe does good work then there are ways online to check their Assets, their charitable status, their holdings and etc. Then send them a donation. Do not enter into any games. Once you have bitten on a PHISHING line you are basically a dead fish.
The police will collect the information, but this happens all the time and seniors can lose 100s of thousands to these schemes. So you reported it. It is unlikely you will see any money back. It is a hard lesson and I hope it wasn't a lot of money.
Just because someone says they are in need, are a person of faith, are whatever on the phone, it doesn't mean they are truthtellers. Sorry you had this experience. It is infuriating, isn't it?