I checked my elderly mother's checking account balance online today. I found a $100 automated clearing house debit for $100. I have power of attorney for my mother's account and I did not authorized any debits. I phoned the bank and they said that the debit was done by "TIN16 AG". There was a toll free number listed to call, which I did and the number was not in service.
I put TIN16 AG into a web search and found a phony website for some company called "Master Merchant". The toll free number listed on their site was out of service. This company states they are located in Vienna, Austria. It's obviously a total fraud. The bank immediately closed the account and I had to file a fraud report.
I spent 3 hours of my time today taking care of this mess. I had to call Social Security, my mother's health insurance company, and a bank that deposits her IRA proceeds in order to inform them of my mother's new checking account number. These THIEVES at Master Merchant are allowed to steal money from a senior citizen and I'm left with a ton of hassle and aggravation. Why can't this kind of theft be stopped? Everyone should check their bank balances regularly to check for unauthorized debits.
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