I like the podcast "The Perfect Scam" a lot. Each episode tells the story of scam with extensive interviews of victims, experts and sometimes police and others.
I just listened to the most recent episode, about a "check washing" criminal who stole nearly $10,000 from a Rhode Island couple. Much of the story involves the couple's frustrating experience dealing with their bank —which gave them confusing responses but little actual help —in an attempt to get their money back. It's a good story, but while I usually find this podcast thorough in its reporting, this episode had some weaknesses.
First, they should have named the bank (and tried to get a comment from them). By not doing so, they tarred all banks with the same negative brush.
Second, I wanted to hear more from the police. The victims said police had a picture of the thief; so was that person arrested? If not, why not?
Third, I would have liked to have heard from the TV reporter who got the couple's money back. How did her conversation with the bank go?
Fourth, the post office official they interviewed was a bit behind the times on the nature of check washing today. Criminals now can easily alter checks digitally; no chemicals required.
Fifth, it was mentioned briefly, but the show should have emphasized the best solution to this fraud: Stop writing checks. There are so many other ways to pay bills online and send money digitally that checks aren’t necessary. Not only will that stop the fraud, it will help protect postal workers from being attacked by crimials seeking checks in the mail they're carrying.
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