More than 300 Social Security checks stolen throughout Tampa Bay

St. Petersburg - Tampa Bay Times ^ | October 11, 2012 | John Woodrow Cox,

[Cincinatus' Wife]

More than 300 Social Security checks that should have gone to Tampa Bay residents earlier this month have been stolen, officials have confirmed.

"Apparently this is fairly widespread," said U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, who has received calls from several distraught residents. "It's hundreds and mainly in Pinellas County."

Young said he was told by investigators that the theft appeared to be an inside job carried out by one or two people, though he declined to divulge for which agencies the suspects work.

"They have a target," he said of the investigators. "They know who it is."

[GeronL]

Have the riots started yet??

[holden]

Sounds as if somebody's gone postal (quietly). Check with the postal employee who just quit.

HF

[Slump Tester]

Don’t SS checks have the SS # on them? If so, then that’s the same thing as identity theft. They’ll have everything they need to steal their identity.

[svcw]

That’s interesting.
When I started collecting, I was told I must have a bank account for auto deposit.
There was no choice, either have a bank account or no check.

[x]

... hmm ... Obama has just enough social security numbers in his name to cash them ...

[TigerClaws]

I made the mistake of mailing a Money Order to DC. Yep. Went postal on me and never showed up.

[annieokie]

I thought all SS checks were Direct Deposit these days.

[crosshairs]

Money from the Obama stash.

[ken in texas]

People that recently started receiving benefits must have Direct Deposit. Many started benefits years ago and received checks. SSA may “encourage” them to switch to EFT but continues to send them checks for now.

[svcw]

Oh, well that explains it then.

[annieokie]

hmmmm, interesting. All I know is for the last 10 yrs. our has been going Direct Deposit, no choice and I like it that way.

[annieokie]

Here's a tip for all: When you seal the envelope, scotch tape the upper flap ends to seal. They don't put the glue all the way along the flap.

The machines at the PO scans the letters quicker than you can blink, some get caught up and mangled at times. You will never see that mailing again and they don't care.

I worked at the PO at one time, I also have two checks each over $500 somewhere mangled in the PO trash, been out there for about 10 yrs now. No, I did not stop payment on the checks, I knew what happened.

[ken in texas]

No choice starting 10 years ago? Interesting. As I recall new filers had to use direct deposit starting around early 2011. No doubt there was a lot of “encouragement” before then.

[annieokie]

I have to take that back about the NO Choice back then, it's been so long, maybe we just opted to do it that way.

I would never have that check sent through the mail, just not safe.