Saline police unable to identify who accessed bank information of at least 12 Rolling Meadows residents
Saline police say they were unable to identify a suspect during their investigation into a fraud scheme that victimized a dozen residents of the Rolling Meadows Townhomes and have closed the case.
Detective Don Lupi said investigators believe the identities of a dozen residents at the complex on the city’s north side were stolen off of rent or dues checks written to the condominium association earlier this year. The identities were then used to forge checks that were sent to mystery shoppers across the country in an elaborate Internet-related scheme.
Lupi said police followed the check trail to the property management company and its bank, and determined there were too many people who had access to the information to identify specific suspects. Employees with the management company aren't believed to be involved in any wrongdoing, he added.
![Rolling Meadows1[4].jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/08/Rolling Meadows1[4]-thumb-300x225-52111.jpg)
The identities of at least a dozen residents of Rolling Meadows were stolen.
Police launched the investigation last month after multiple residents reported their bank and credit union accounts were frozen due to alleged illegal activity. In each case, checks for roughly $900 were cashed by people who responded to mystery or secret shopper ads over the Internet. Those individuals were instructed to cash the checks and keep a percentage for themselves before wiring the remainder of the money overseas.
Mystery shopping is a legitimate service sometimes used by companies to test their products or customer service techniques. The industry, however, is rampant with fraud schemes based over the Internet, fed by people’s desires to make easy money in a short time period, investigators said.
Both the management company and bank instituted better security measures after discussing the case with police, Lupi said.
Lupi said police also met with many of the residents to educate them about other popular scams and how to better protect their personal and banking information. Even though the residents were unwilling participants in the scam, he encouraged them to begin paying bills over secure Internet connections to limit access to information about their checking accounts. No residents in the 70-unit complex who pay their dues or rent automatically online were victimized.
Lupi also said the common denominator in many fraud schemes is the victims are asked to send money abroad.
“Never send money overseas unless it’s for family for someone you personally know,” Lupi said. “That’s a telltale sign of a scam.”
The case could be reopened with additional evidence. Anyone with information is asked to call Lupi at 734-429-7911, or e-mail him at dlupi@cityofsaline.org.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 723-623-2530.
Comments
Gorc
Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 5:55 p.m.
@Cash....the checks did not bounce. The stolen information was used to print counterfeit checks that cleared the Saline residents accounts. The drawing bank, banks where the Saline residents have their accounts, are responsible because the signature on the front of the checks were forged or unauthorized.
Cash
Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 5:35 p.m.
I don't see why the depository bank would be liable if no one there is found guilty. If the "mystery shoppers" got the checks cashed however, they would be out the money I would think....as the checks were forged and would bounce. So the forged checks would bounce and the money wouldn't be taken from the residents accounts. The "mystery shoppers" would be out the money. No mystery there!
Gorc
Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 4:38 p.m.
The residents will be made whole...the drawing banks will have to reimburse their funds after they have conducted their investigation. The police did not completely rule out the employees of the management company according to the article...the article said, "employees of the management company are not BELIEVED to be involved with any wrong doing." So the trail still leads to either the bank employees or the management companies employees.
Harm
Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 2:25 p.m.
Makes one think the banks are not really too interested in identifying those responsible. I don't think the residents are liable for the amounts stolen, but those that might have cashed fake checks would be. Hint to police: Follow the money... I know, I know, that's a bit unfair, since it probably winds up in Africa some place, but they should be able to figure out a paper trail.
debling
Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 11:46 a.m.
This sounds like the case should be forwarded to the FBI since there is an international connection. Also, can anyone tell me if the victims are liable for the amounts taken from their accounts? Are they protected by bank or Federal policies? It would seem to me that at least those that cashed the checks in the US would have to return the money to the victims (like returning stolen property) and they themselves would be the actual victims of the fraudulent activity.
AlwaysLate
Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 9:03 a.m.
"Lupi said police followed the check trail to the property management company and its bank, and determined there were too many people who had access to the information to identify specific suspects. Employees with the management company aren't believed to be involved in any wrongdoing, he added." Ipso-Facto that implies the Bank Employees are involved.
Cash
Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 8:10 a.m.
These people wrote checks to pay their dues or rent as millions of people do every day. Only so many hands touched those checks and viewed those numbers. Also,employees at the management company aren't believed to be involved in wrongdoing....then that leaves the bank? And if so, were any other of the bank's depositors checks involved other than this property management company? Because if it involves someone at the bank, why would they just choose this company's checks? Even though online banking doesn't involve paper, it does still involve bank employees processing information. This is really an odd story.
Gorc
Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 6:26 a.m.
In this particular case an ACH debit for their dues would have better protected the residents.