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Fraud Alert: Ben Franklin and his horses

Lehman's
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This week, I got a call from a man who wanted to sell his "horses"...a combined 330 horses that were in the motors of two vehicles, his late model Saab and his 10-year-old motorcycle. Ironically, his last name was "Horseman." He wanted to know if the check we wrote was any good. My question was, "What check?" Sadly, there appears to be a crook out there writing counterfeit checks on one of our bank accounts, the one with a number ending in 6957. This is a "deposit only" account. It's impossible to write a check on this account, and we never do. It's not a checking account and, because of the fraudulent activity, we're actually closing the account. We've also filed a report with the police. I've worked with horses on my little farm. But, this is a far cry from the kind of animals I'm used to! Mr Horseman warned me, "You better check your accounting department and put a stop to this." But, it's not our accounting department that's doing it. In fact, it has nothing to do with Lehman's. And, there's nothing we can do to make it stop. The checks come from places all over the country. They've been written out for vehicles, boats and antiques. Often, there are fantastical stories to go with the checks. Mr. Horseman was told that the check was signed by "Mr Lehman's son" to buy a motorcycle for his dad. This story made me laugh. I used to ride, but after I flopped my bike on a patch of gravel, it wasn't any fun any more. After that experience, I sold my motorbike. My dad used to ride, too, but at the age of 82 he starts up his Model T when he wants to feel the wind in his hair. Several of the checks were signed by "B Franklin." Although I'd love to have known wise old Ben, he was before my time and has never worked here. If you receive a check from Lehman's that is drawn on an account number ending in 6957 and drawn on a Cleveland bank, it's a counterfeit. If you receive a check by Fed Ex from Lehman's, it's probably not real (because we almost never send checks that way). And, if someone tells you "Mr Lehman's son" wants to by a motorcycle, run the other way!