Lauren Easom

My life is starting to seem like a bad joke. Seriously. If they made a movie about the last few months of my life, you would turn it off half way through because it is just too unrealistic. You'd say, "yeah, right. Like that many bad things could happen to the same person within such a short time frame." I realize that I'm whining so please stop reading if you don't want to hear it.

Today, I looked at my checking account balance online and realized that someone has been writing checks out of my account. "Natalia Carney" obtained a book of checks with my previous address that were in the backpack stolen out of the trunk of my car 2 weeks ago. This person wrote checks totaling hundreds of dollars to art supply stores, BevMo, Walgreens, and others. I will be reimbursed by my bank, but not before several administrative tasks and delays.

She printed her name above mine to make it look like a joint account, and the clerks have even written a driver's license number on the check. The fraud department representative at Washington Mutual doubts she uses her actual identity though. The art supplies may indicate she is buying equipment for additional forgeries. This is great for her because now she can go on ripping people off. They aren't actually going to investigate because the amount is not large enough. This person is going to continue getting away with fraud because she didn't steal enough for it to matter. Same case with the person who broke into my house in December.

This begs the question, how much is enough to matter? He didn't have a magic number, but said if the efforts would cost more than the loss they would not investigate. That makes sense, I guess. But what about potential loss? It is highly unlikely this is not the first time "Natalia" has done this, and she obviously has the equipment to do it again. She is using these checks for day-to-day expenses as opposed to a major fraud operation, so I wonder how many people have unknowingly been victims.

In an effort to comfort me, the fraud department rep. offered that, "Things come in threes. You should start having good luck now." I certainly hope so, because I can barely take any more things like this happening. March better bring some damn good things, because if not I'm going to lose it. Not really. But maybe. If you see me pick up a pair of hair clippers à la Britney Spears, be worried.

Deep breath.

On the upside, I'm going to see my favorite band, Snow Patrol, tonight. I've never seen them live and am very excited. Along the lines of music, but far from the likes of Snow Patrol - there is a new country radio station in San Francisco. It just began this morning, so I was pleasantly surprised on my commute. I realize that by mentioning my guilty pleasure here I am inviting criticism on my taste in tunes...but I can't help it. Go easy on me, it's already been a long day :)