Mysterious check came in the mail

WWYD?

I received a mysterious check from CapitolOne. It is just for about $160, and came all by itself, no explanation, and is made out to me. There is a reference number in the memo, and says it's for an account ending in a 4 digit number that does not match my current cc or cc account account number. If it's a credit back, then why not just credit my account?

Maybe it's referring to an old account that was closed many years ago? If so, I don't even think it would have had my current name on it, which is what is shown on this check. I don't really feel like going through old files trying to locate the old account information.

Maybe there was a class action suit that I was part of unbeknownst to me? Or is this like real life Monopoly and there has been a bank error in my favor that will be difficult to reverse? Or is this some sinister plot to gather my banking information? Should I just deposit the check and stop asking questions??

Don't put it in your account. It's a scam. I read about this earlier this week. I'll try to find the source and post it here.

Capitol with an "o"? If so, sounds suspect. I got a refund for an over payment and it's definitely CapitalOne with an "a".

resolve with a quick call to capital one

ridski said:

Don't put it in your account. It's a scam. I read about this earlier this week. I'll try to find the source and post it here.

This one?

http://archive.naplesnews.com/...

A few years ago there was a scam in which the perpetrator sends a check for a modest amount and then uses information on the returned check to determine account information to then make withdrawals.

What you described is a little bit different. As per advice above, call Capital One (with an "a").

April Fool's scam/"joke"?

+ 1

conandrob240 said:

resolve with a quick call to capital one

take it to a cap one branch (millburn)

capital one handles a lot of department store accounts. I just got a check from them with info I didn't recognize.After reading this thread, . I looked thru my Dept store CC's and recognized part of the acct number on the check. It turned out I had overpaid Lord &Taylor and cap one issued a refund. When I called the number on the back of my L&T card, they verified the refund

msrgardner said:

capital one handles a lot of department store accounts. I just got a check from them with info I didn't recognize.After reading this thread, . I looked thru my Dept store CC's and recognized part of the acct number on the check. It turned out I had overpaid Lord &Taylor and cap one issued a refund. When I called the number on the back of my L&T card, they verified the refund

Why not just credit the account?

i think regulations required them to pay me back after carrying a credit on the account for several months, go or it may be their policy regarding owing consumers money back. Some scenarios where this could occur:. Purchase something, pay your account down to zero, then return it. They owe you money. Or my scenario...Accidentally pay the same bill twice during conversion from regular to electronic bills. they owed me so there's no credit to create. There was already a credit on the account and they refunded it as a check

it would have been helpful for capital 1 to identify the account as a L&T account. That was the biggest headache resulting in the 'what is this' question

if the store account has a negative balance from a return or something and they owe you $, it will only stay like that a few months then thrybmsil you a check (minus a hefty feee)

msrgardner said:

it would have been helpful for capital 1 to identify the account as a L&T account. That was the biggest headache resulting in the 'what is this' question

Oh, right, Lord and Taylor account. That might be the one...

It's CapitalOne (with an A that is).

I'll call before depositing...thanks everyone--this has been interesting!

That's not true, I've had Macy's send me checks after making returns to my account, Gap too. I have both of these cards but rarely shop at the stores. No fees were taken out.

conandrob240 said:

if the store account has a negative balance from a return or something and they owe you $, it will only stay like that a few months then thrybmsil you a check (minus a hefty feee)

perhaps not true for you at the stores that sent you a check. Or maybe it's a recent thing. But, in any case, true for me. It just happened to me a few months ago. I never knew it was a "thing". I guess in the past I had always just spent $ at the store so the credit was absorbed. Anyway, for me a few months ago it was Bloomingdale's and there was something like a $25 check fee taken out. I had a $102 credit but got a check for around $76.

Follow-up: The check was indeed from my Lord & Taylor account, which I had a scheduled payment set up form my bank and which I forgot to switch off.  L&T credit is handled through the check-issuing bank (CapitalOne).

conandrob240 said:

if the store account has a negative balance from a return or something and they owe you $, it will only stay like that a few months then thrybmsil you a check (minus a hefty feee)

Why "minus a hefty fee"?  I don't think they are allowed to do that, are they?

They can under certain circumstances, but it would have to be disclosed in front.