Writing checks in other peoples names?

Question

My mother recently had someone write four checks in her name and three of them were in the $500 region while one of them was only $28.

I understand this kind of thing happens but the odd thing is according to her bank the checks the person wrote in her name were numbered 2543 and up and the checks she currently has only go up to 2232.

My question is how can someone write a check in her name with checks that she has never had? It has me completely stumped.

Has anyone had any experiences like this or anything?

Answer 1

It's simple.  They obtain blank cheques and print the numbers on themselves.  Either that or they order cheques in her name.  Last time I ordered cheques they asked me what number I wanted them to start at.  I just took a look at the ones I had now and went with the next number block higher.  Chances are, someone recieved a cheque from her and therefore had her account details already printed on it and they just ordered cheques based upon that info and chose the next number block higher.  Hopefully the bank is sorting this out for her and she's not out of pocket for it.  Either way, I hope the police have been contacted and are investigating.

Answer 2

It sounds like someone must have placed an order with a check company for a book of blank checks imprinted with her information. They probably ordered the checks starting with a number much higher than the existing check they had, thinking maybe this would somehow help them not be detected.