But Why No Prosecution?

Dear Ann Landers: You often cover topics that help people live safer, saner lives. I’m writing to acquaint your readers with a fraudulent practice that could deplete your savings or checking accounts and you wouldn’t know it for months.

I’m talking about the theft of credit card and checking account numbers from trash Dumpsters

in apartments and office buildings. Everyone has seen scavengers going through trash for valuable items, recyclable cans and anything worth money.

Until recently, this was OK with me. But your readers should know about the darker side of this seemingly harmless “treasure hunt.”

We had $850 removed from our checking account not long ago. The first we knew about it was when a series of bounced checks sent us scurrying to the bank to ask, “How come?” We are never overdrawn. Our checkbook always balances.

Months later, we got our money back, but only after we took funds from our retirement account to cover the bounced checks and the fraudulent charges against our account.

We closed that account, but seven months later, someone continued to use forged checks with our name and old account number.

These thieves found our account number on ATM slips, canceled checks and financial records that were thrown away in an unlocked, communal Dumpster. Please, Ann, tell your readers to shred these records or keep them in a storage facility. They also should make sure communal Dumpsters are secured against these criminals.

We aren’t rich. Losing nearly $1,000 made a sizable dent in our budget. We managed to get through that crisis, but many others might have ended up floating a loan and paying a high interest rate.

You might be wondering what happened to the culprits. The bank traced them, and we finally got our money back, but the forgers were never prosecuted. - Kim in San Diego

Dear San Diego: My readers learn from each other. Thanks for your valuable input. (P.S. Why weren’t the forgers prosecuted? I’d like to know.)

Dear Ann Landers: I was interested in the letter from the woman whose sister is involved with a man who has AIDS and tuberculosis.

I was divorced after many years in an unhappy marriage. Subsequently, I met an extraordinary man. “Ralph” was romantic, sensitive, intelligent, funny, talented, handsome and successful. He was also HIV positive.

I shared 10 years with my soulmate, the last two of which were spent watching him succumb to the ravages of this devastating disease. He died several months ago, at home, in my arms.

I would not have missed one day with Ralph, despite knowing the inevitable outcome and the risks involved. Please tell “No City” that her sister may know great joy with this man in spite of the heartaches.

She should encourage her sister to join an AIDS caregivers support group. It can help enormously in the difficult times ahead. Above all, she should not focus on the risks. It sounds as if the sister is well-informed and careful. So was I, which is why I am HIV negative. Seattle

Dear Seattle: Ralph was lucky to have had a woman like you in his life for 10 years. I hope the future bodes well for you. You deserve it.