Over the past several months, delayed and missing mail have plagued a new USPS facility in metro Atlanta.
More than 1,000 viewers have contacted 11Alive since we launched our postal problems investigation into the new Regional Processing & Distribution Center (RP&DC) facility in Palmetto. Most of the frustration is about lost packages, missing mail or major mail delays.
This week, a metro Atlanta business owner reached out regarding a whole different problem: a check and thousands of dollars deposited into an unknown bank account.
Christy Burger and her husband own Solid Source Foundations, a commercial concrete company. Burger said that while many of their vendors accept online payments, a few still prefer paper checks.
She said they switched to FedEx towards the end of last year when the USPS was dealing with major delays. However, more recently, she gravitated back to the postal service.
"Some of the mail had seemed to be arriving in a more timelier fashion," Burger explained.
Earlier this month, Burger said she spoke to one of their vendors, who agreed to accept the check through USPS.
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"I put it in the mail, saw it clear the bank and then last week she contacted me and said we still don't have the check." she said.
Burger thought that was strange because she recalled the check clearing their account. So, she logged back onto their bank account.
"I viewed the check from the account and it has been altered, it was no longer paid out to my vendor," Burger said.
The check was completely different. Burger said the name on the check was Destiny Seay, which had a Florida address.
"Someone else entirely I do not know," Burger explained.
She immediately called the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, where their business is located.
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Burger said that during the initial investigation, the detective told them that it appeared their check had never left the Palmetto processing facility once it arrived.
She said the detective explained that it appeared the check was intercepted, someone opened their envelope, altered the check, likely completed a mobile deposit, and drained the account before closing it.
"He said that there had been several other checks, or cases similar to ours where all these checks were going to the Palmetto Facility and not leaving, none of the physical checks were coming out, all the checks were being altered similar to ours," Burger explained.
11Alive contacted the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, which confirmed that their agency was investigating.
By sharing their stories, Burger hopes other business owners and individuals will be more aware of this alleged scheme.
If you feel you have been a victim, you are encouraged to call your local law enforcement agency.