Additional victims report money order tampering

Friday, December 5, 2008
By KATHY FAIRCHILD/Staff writer

Our Dec. 2 story about an altered money order has brought additional information to light.

The Marshall Democrat-News has confirmed two more incidents and has unconfirmed reports of several more.

In the three confirmed incidents, local residents who bought money orders issued by Moneygram International, via their outlet at the Marshall Wal-Mart, used the money orders to pay their monthly bill from AT&T.

The money orders were then altered by an unknown person who later cashed the money orders at a bank in Providence, R.I. AT&T never received the payments.

Victims didn't know what had happened until they received their next monthly bill from AT&T, including a service charge for the "missed" payment.

In each case, the payee information on the money order was altered to the same fictitious name.

We have contacted Moneygram International, the Rhode Island bank where the money orders were cashed and the security department at AT&T.

Of the three, only AT&T has been willing to take any action so far.

In each case, AT&T has begun an investigation and has removed late charges from affected customers' accounts and has also promised not to take any action to disconnect phone service for them.

If you or someone you know has had a similar experience, first contact local law enforcement and then bring your documents to the newspaper office at 121 N. Lafayette St., Marshall, or contact us by phone at 660-886-2233 or at the e-mail address below.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net

Comments

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I agree with you Sam,The Debit card is the only way to go, AT&T debits my card every month just like clock work,and no paper being used.

SAVE THE TREES

-- Posted by DocHolida2u on Sun, Dec 7, 2008, at 9:29 AM

This just goes to confirm what I have known all along. Your money is never safe when you trust people handle it. In today's world, banks offer bill paying services that were unheard of just five years ago and the Internet is the safest way to pay bills. Banks wire transfer billions of dollars around the world every day without loosing a penny and that's good enough for me. My debit card is the handiest thing since sliced bread and I am amazed every time I pay my phone bill while sitting at my computer in my pajamas.

Sam I Am

Seussville, Missouri

-- Posted by Sam I Am on Sat, Dec 6, 2008, at 7:53 AM

Where is the big international business in this matter...they don't give a fig....sorry state of affairs....I wish Mainstreet was here....

-- Posted by Dave in MidMO on Fri, Dec 5, 2008, at 3:55 PM