Mystery Check

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Perhaps some here remember, I posted a thread some weeks ago.

I received a check, almost $2,000 from the government.

It had NO DOCUMENTATION whatsoever. The return address on the envelope was marked "US Separtment of the Treasury, Bureau of The Fiscal Service...Philadelphia PA." The check was made to me AND my wife.

We were NOT due any refund that we were aware of for the last several years.

Folks here advised me NOT to cash or deposit the check, with many different ideas about schemes and scams that could have been behind the check.

I looked up all I could about ways to test the check's validity: First was the watermark on the paper. I held the check up to a light, and there it was: "U S Treasury.. " on the front and the back.

Second was an extremely small line printed on the bottom, under Liberty's robe. With a magnifying glass I could tell it said something, but I couldn't read what it said. Such micro-printing is supposed to be an indicator of authenticity

Third, the printed check number in the upper right corner matched the number on the check itself, which is another test.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Fnally, I called the "Bureau of the Fiscal Service...". After being on hold for over two hours and listening to their message telling me "my call would be answered in under one minute, Agent 2nnnn answered and asked me for some stuff printed on the check. When I gave him the answers, he told me that indeed, the check was a legitimate government-issued check, but he couldn't tell me why, I would have to contact IRS to get that information.

So, I girded my loins and contacted the IRS. Agent 1xxxx told me the check was for an overpayment on our 2019 return.

We had not declared any overpayment on any of our last few year's returns.

There was a line printed on the check "Int $ 239.80"

Lastly my wife remembered something: Her parents died a few years back. She was one of 10 siblings (a good Catholic family). Her inheritance share was not big, but she remembered a CD which she cashed at her bank. They deducted about $1,700 from the CD before cashing to her the balance.

So the $1,700 plus interest makes up the total of the check.

We will cash and deposit it today!

[Red Badger]

You sure it wasn’t from a Nigerian Prince?.........

[Jane Long]

Congrats!!

[sten]

Take it to a bank and have them verify its validity.

Be aware, if real and you weren’t due the check, they could come back for it sometime in the future. (Ask the banker)

It could also be the result of someone stealing your identity. You should consider running a credit check on both you and your wife

[Qwapisking]

if it was from a rich Nigerian Princess though...

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

You proved that today we need to do our due dilligence.

great work.

[sten]

Nevermind. I missed your post comment.

Looks like you got it figured.

Grats

[logi_cal869]

But that would remove all the mystery.

/s

[deport]

Thanks for all the info. I’m sure many will be please.
Hope the best for you and yours.

[Notthereyet]

That’s wonderful, FroggyTheGremlin-!

Not only are you a bit plumper in the wallet, you provided new ways of verifying questionable checques for us Freepers who weren’t aware of the steps that could be taken.

Thank you for letting us know of all the steps and the positive outcome!

[lizma2]

The same thing happened to me last week.
It had the year 2021 on it and that’s the year my mom died.

[READINABLUESTATE]

So.. It’s okay to look a gift horse in the mouth now?

[George from New England]

Why the hell cant the feds issue documentation?
It can take days worth of our time

[JudyinCanada]

Cash it quickly before they hand it over to an illegal.

Quite the difference....on one hand, someone who is nervous to take money that may not be his, and on the other hand, all kinds of groups who would sell their grandmother for a few bucks.

[ComputerGuy]

I would think Uncle Sam’s name would be the first thing you noticed.

[norcal joe]

It could also be the result of someone stealing your identity.

That makes no sense. The IRS told him the reason for the check. And why would someone steal his identity in order to cause the IRS to send him money?

[Eccl 10:2]

As long as there was no evidence of it being a loan in disguise. In the past I’ve received legal scams of what looks like a check made out to me, but the accompanying documentation says if I cash or deposit it it’s actually a loan that I would have to pay exorbitant interest on.

[Bob434]

Conscientious identity theives?

[foundedonpurpose]

Just take it to a bank and have them verify it. Why did you post this. Ever heard of common sense.

[sgt_lau]

Good on you! Thanks for posting this. If I’m in a similar situation I’ll know what steps to take.