Right in the centre - The cheque is in the mail

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Published on Thursday, March 6, 2025

By Ken Waddell

Neepawa Banner & Press

The old story goes that, “The cheque is in the mail”. That statement is usually true. 

I was perplexed a few weeks ago when we started to hear about Post Office boxes being broken into and contents stolen. I couldn’t figure out what was to be gained by robbing Post Office boxes. Almost nobody sends cash in the mail these days so I doubted that could be the reason.

Then somebody told me that maybe credit card renewal envelopes were being taken and now that activating a credit card is more automated than it used to be, perhaps that was the reason.

Then about three weeks ago, I was checking our Accounts Receivable and came across an account from a long time local customer that wasn’t paid. That seemed strange, but when I called them, they said, “Oh yes, that was paid”. They checked their records and they had sent us the cheque and it had actually been deposited. The problem is, it had not been deposited by us, so who did deposit the cheque? The customer went to their banking institution and found out the cheque had been deposited to an account but not ours . It had been deposited to an account at a bank where we don’t have an account.

That was a mystery, but by asking at my banking institution and at the one where the cheque was deposited, this is what we think happened. The cheque was stolen from our mail box at Canada Post. It was deposited by way of a night deposit at the bank, not to the “thief’s” account but to another person’s account where the “thief” had gained access. As soon as it was deposited, they could withdraw cash. I presume there would have been a cash withdrawal limit on the account, but there would be nothing stopping the “thief” from going back the next day and the next and withdrawing the limit again. If the real account holder didn’t  check their account or go over their statement at the end of the month, they might never know that money went in and out of their account. If the “thief” was smart, and we have to assume they are, then they would be careful to never withdraw more than the total value of the cheque or cheques they deposited. That way, the affected account wouldn’t look like it was out of balance by very much at the end of the month.

Now, here’s the kicker. I have verified with at least three banking people that cheque fraud is rampant and that there is  a “theft ring” operating in Western Manitoba. Isn’t that comforting to know?

I was also told that the RCMP are on it but, I assume it will be difficult to prove for sure. I believe bank machines are protected by surveillance cameras. In contrast, there are many Post Offices that have been broken into but Post Offices apparently don’t have security cameras.

I find all this very upsetting. It’s not that we don’t have enough to worry about with everything else that is going on in the world. I was told by a banker that the RCMP are looking into this and many other problems. I was so frustrated that I muttered, it would be best for the “thief or thieves” if the RCMP catch them before I did.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the newspaper staff.