I was getting my rent check in Money Orders (I don’t use my bank anymore because my landlord is a bad person, but that’s another story).
I was pleased when I saw there was no line. I was less pleased when I saw one cashier and a little, blue-haired old woman. However, I had my phone and some time, so I scrolled while I waited.
The computer on the far end of the counter crashed, so the cashier and the old woman moved to the computer closest to where I was standing. I look up when the cashier has to call her supervisor. There are now two people behind me.
The supervisor comes over, does supervisor things, and walks back away. The cashier asks all the questions they have to ask, and I am hoping this will be over soon.
Cashier: “And why are you sending this money?”
Old Woman: “My landlady emailed me that she is travelling. She told me she wouldn’t be able to pick up my rent check. Told me to cancel it and wire her the money.”
The cashier stopped and then turned away from her computer.
Cashier: “Ma’am, does your landlady usually email you?”
Old Woman: “No, I was actually really confused, she normally calls me or just comes by the house. She’s even helped me put my groceries away before.”
Cashier: “Okay, so I think you’re being scammed. Someone is attempting to steal your rent money. Have you cancelled the rent check?”
The woman indicated she had.
Cashier: “Okay, I want you to go home and call your leasing company or landlady. Let her know what’s going on, see if she’s travelling, and work out something else. Don’t wire money to someone you don’t know.”
The woman was understandably confused. She tried to get the cashier to do the transaction anyway.
Cashier: “Ma’am, if she is travelling, you can mail her a check, or she can have someone else collect it. If I send this money without you confirming, you will lose it. I will not be able to get it back. Please just call your landlady. I am on until 9 PM tonight, and I will personally wire the money if you talk to your landlady on the phone and she agrees that this is how she wants the money. I am not going to do it based on an email. I want to make sure you don’t lose money.”
The old woman left. I made my way to the counter and thanked the cashier for protecting that woman. I think elder scams are a new form of evil.
Then I spent twenty minutes with various computer issues. One froze, one locked out the cashier, even with supervisor override, and the last computer wouldn’t take my information. Finally, the one that froze and crashed let us do the thing.
All through it, the cashier was chipper and helpful. When she noticed I was struggling with standing (I have an invisible disability) she got me a chair. Not the usual story, but it warmed my heart to still see a lovely cashier. She deserves a raise and all the great things in life.
