The fraudsters managed to obtain the organization’s account number. They then created checks from scratch, addressed to different people, in order to access funds from Moisson Estrie.
So far, two falsified checks have been presented at banking institutions. The first, in the amount of $50,000, was deemed suspicious by an employee and blocked upon deposit. The second, in the amount of $15,000, was nevertheless accepted.
Moisson Estrie noticed the unusual withdrawal a few days later. Its administrators wonder why the check was accepted, when it was not authentic and did not bear the signature of one of the signatories of the organization recognized by its financial institution.
It looks like, but isn’t identical to, the signature of the person who writes our charitable donation receipts, but doesn’t issue checks. […] That leads me to say that the person who wrote that check nevertheless did his research in connection with Moisson Estrie to find the account number, rewrite a check and imitate an employee’s signature.
explains the director of Moisson Estrie, Geneviève Côté.
The organization should get its money back, but the process is not straightforward. The reimbursement has been awaited for two weeks, which weighs heavily on his budget as a non-profit organization.
” A hole of $15,000 is still huge. We don’t have millions of reserves, really not. »
A concern also persists on the side of the organization. We are not immune to other checks showing up this way
laments Geneviève Côté. We find ourselves with our hands tied in the expectation of “hopefully we don’t have other situations like this.”
A complaint was filed with the Sherbrooke police. At Desjardins, I also understood that he has outside investigators. I hope that this person will be intercepted as soon as possible and that there is no other victim
emphasizes Geneviève Côté.
Every check verified, assures Desjardins
Desjardins maintains that each check goes through a verification process, but that process can take a few days.
Desjardins is anchored in the best practices in the market, and so are other financial institutions. We collaborate a lot between us. Checks are verified. There are several levels of verification. We can’t really disclose our methods, what exactly we check or when, for security reasons
explains the main spokesperson for the Desjardins movement Chantal Corbeil.
She indicates that this type of fraud is widespread and that Moisson Estrie will indeed be reimbursed. What is important is that the member, when he is the victim of this type of fraud, is not held responsible, and the person who will assume the loss is really the financial institution, in this case- here Desjardins
she says.
Members also have access to certain possible solutions while waiting to be reimbursed.
When situations like that happen, it’s on a case-by-case basis. […] It’s to see if we can perhaps offer a margin. If the person already has a line of credit, they may be able to use it in the meantime, and eventually, in any case, they will be reimbursed, but these are agreements they can make to have access to ‘money
reassures Chantal Corbeil.
On the side of the Service de police de Sherbrooke, it is said that an investigation is underway.
With information from Thomas Deshaies
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca