Massapequa man out thousands of dollars after he says two checks were washed
Roger Kaufman, of Massapequa, had two checks washed. One was his tax bill which never made it to the receiver of taxes, and the other was a check he'd sent to a medical lab.
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A Massapequa man, who is semi-retired and on a fixed income, says he had two checks washed.
One was his tax bill, which never made it to the receiver of taxes, and the other was a check he'd sent to a medical lab.
Roger Kaufman says that not only did someone "reap the benefits" of money that's not theirs, but "I had to pay the taxes twice and they're getting away with it."
"I am furious," Kaufman told News 12.
Kaufman's check for $4,937 was intended for his town's receiver of taxes. Instead, someone washed the recipient's name, changing it to "Tyleek Turner," keeping the amount the same. The check was deposited by a criminal, leaving Kaufman with no choice but to pay his taxes a second time.
Shortly after that incident, he said a $10 check he wrote to a medical lab was changed to "$1,000" and deposited into an account.
He is hoping that his bank, Flagstar, will be able to step in and give him the amount - nearly $6,000 - that he lost.
News 12 reached out to the United States Postal Inspection Service.
A spokesperson said in a statement:
"I can confirm USPIS is aware and investigating this incident among others in Nassau and Suffolk counties, tied to recent inquiries from News12."
