Complaint Review: Washington Mutual - Identity Theft Prevention

Some phone scammers ripped off about $700 from my grandma's Washington Mutual checking account. I've been investigating it. From what I gathered, they're running little more than a crooked calling center.

What was disturbing was how they got my grandma's money out of her account: they wrote the check! You can see a photo of the check on my blog:

http://wamublamesgrandma.blogspot.com/2006/03/check-1.html

My grandma initiated a fraud claim but Wamu rejected it saying she authorized the transaction. Not true. Wamu's position: if the scammers recorded her saying her account number (which they did do), she authorized the transaction and it's a legitimate transaction. Then they said her account was compromised and closed her account.

I grilled Wamu customer support about their check processing policy and this is what they told me:

1. They will cash checks written by any third-party "merchant" against your account -- even if you never signed (or saw) a check.

2. The only limit on the money at risk in your account is the funds available.

3. After the fact, if you initiate a fraud claim, Wamu will reject it if the scammers have a recording of you saying your account number. Nothing more.

4. Ask them to protect your account by only cashing checks you have personally signed in writing and they refuse.

This should be of interest to any Washington Mutual checking account holders, especially in light of the debit card problems they've been having lately.

Tom
Anaheim, California
U.S.A.