Washington Mutual Aka WAMU Fraud victim due to lacking security/protection to consumers Seattle Washington

Of Feb 21 05, my wallet was stolen.. I immediately contacted Washington Mutual to cancel all my credit cards, including my debit card, this was done. I also filed a police report. Two days later I needed to check my bank account to see if the charges the theft made (7-11) went through so that I could fill out a fraud report. Instead, I got the shock of a lifetime, the theive walked into a WAMU on the 22nd, I made a withdrawal of $6600 from my checking account.

I immediately contacted WAMU and they informed me that I had to go to a branch because they couldn't look anything up. When I went into a branch, the next shocking moment was when I was told that the person that canceled my debit card did not put a fraud alert on my account.

I was told by WAMU that they would investigate the crime and would get back to me. A couple of days later I was told that I would get a case number and they would let me know if they would give me back my money in 2-4 weeks. I fought this and eventually they issued my money. During the course of 5-6 phones and numerous hours wasted, I asked all WAMU tellers and phone reps if I could put a security code on my account so no one would have access to my accounts, they all told me yes, but upon speaking with a manager was told "we don't do that unless you don't want to give us your SSN or you ask us for the security question.." On March 3rd I went into WAMU with a WA State Paper Temp Drivers License and without ANY questions was given a cashiers check for 5 digit sum. I can't buy beer with this temp ID but I can empty my entire checking account and close it out!!

A couple of weeks later, I received a letter from WAMU stating that this thieve used my account as reference to cash some checks for a total of $1600 and I was responsible for paying them back because the cashed checks were NSF. When I went to WAMU they had me fill out a fraud report and this was last I heard about it until 3 wks later when a collections agency called me, I explained the situation and contacted WAMU, again, I spoke with 5-6 people and they all told me that I was responsible for paying $1600 even though this was a case of fraud and they HAD the police report. After about an hour I finally got a hold of someone who told that the bank teller had me put the wrong verbiage on the fraud report and they were looking for a $1600 charge against my account.

Almost everyone that I encountered at WAMU was rude, a couple even yelled at me.. They did not seem really prepared to help me and most of them did not what to do except transfer me to another person or entertain my phone call. They have zero security protection (even though they have given all the money back) this does not constitute as security protection. Their measures are very reactive. Oh, I almost forgot the thief also victimize 5 other women and all were from WAMU.

Nicole
Renton, Washington
U.S.A.