CALIFORNIA — A couple in Santa Clara County, California says they are out $28,000 after mail thieves allegedly stole their property tax payment from the mail, rewrote the check with their own name, and cashed it — and they claim Wells Fargo denied their request for a refund, telling them it was “too late,” according to a report highlighted by ABC7 Bay Area’s “7 On Your Side.”
What the Homeowners Say Happened to the Property Tax Check
According to the report summary, the couple mailed a property tax payment check worth about $28,000. They say the check was stolen before it reached its intended destination.
The report claims the thieves then wrote their own name on the check and successfully cashed it, leaving the homeowners scrambling to recover the funds and figure out how their check could be altered and processed.
Why the Couple Says They’re Stuck Without a Refund
The key claim in the report is that Wells Fargo declined to reimburse them, saying the request came too late for a refund or recovery. The ABC7 segment summary suggests the couple is disputing that decision and seeking accountability for how the check was negotiated.
The report does not include all of the bank’s full explanation in the image provided, but it presents the issue as a dispute over responsibility and timing after a major theft.
How Check Theft and “Mail Fraud” Complaints Are Growing
Mail theft and check washing schemes have become a major concern in many states because criminals can steal outgoing mail, alter checks, and attempt to cash them quickly — sometimes before the victim even realizes anything is missing…