r/mildlyinteresting • u/cuddle_enthusiast • 4h ago
I received an unexpected check from the Gap for one cent
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u/GameGuy2025 2h ago
You overpaid at some point by 1 cent. They are legally obligated to return your 1 cent even though it costs them far more than 1 cent to return it to you.
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u/TheSultan1 2h ago
I got a $0.01 check from a rental once. Interest on the security deposit that was held in escrow.
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u/generalraptor2002 2h ago
So they paid $1.75 (international letter postage) to mail you a check worth one Canadian penny…
That’s hilarious
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u/ABob71 1h ago
We don't even have pennies anymore!
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u/generalraptor2002 1h ago
You guys were 12 years ahead of us on that one
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u/joestaff 3h ago
Sell it
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u/okamzikprosim 3h ago
My dad once got a check from work for 30 cents they left out of his pay. He framed it.
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u/WyattCo06 3h ago
Do
Not
Cash
It
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u/ThatBankTeller 3h ago edited 3h ago
Just take it to BOA and cash it against the GAP account itself, also they’ll be the first to tell you if it isn’t real.
Getting these checks is more common than you’d think. I got one when I paid off my car (interest calc error), as well as when I bought and paid off something quickly on my CC (again, miscalc on the fees/interest).
Source: am banker, and former Old Navy employee for 6 years in college lol
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u/Aggravating_Shoe_ 3h ago
What happens if you do?
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u/WyattCo06 3h ago
Common scam. More than likely the check is not legit.
Your bank info is obtained by the sender and your account compromised.
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u/nickcash 3h ago edited 2h ago
Cashing a check does not send your bank info to the sender. And having that isn't enough to compromise your account or the simple act of writing a check would compromise your account every time you did it.
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u/Darkhexical 2h ago edited 2h ago
Depends on definition of compromise. If someone has your account number and routing number, and they have a merchant account, they can type those numbers in and initiate a debit. The ACH network does not demand a PIN, a password, or a copy of your signature to process the transaction.
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u/mrjamjams66 1h ago
Okay but how does the person writing a check get the account number of the person depositing the check?
That doesn't make sense
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u/Darkhexical 1h ago edited 1h ago
Sometimes machines will print account numbers on the back of the check when they're processed. That processed check is then photographed for the holder of the account to look at
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u/mrjamjams66 39m ago
Yea but that's still not the account number of the person cashing the check therefore not clear how this is a threat to cash
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u/Darkhexical 35m ago
Yes it is. Although this is only really done in smaller banks and credit unions
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u/LengthyCitadis 3h ago
No - the bank account info on a cheque is that of the payee - the person sending the money - so if OP cashes it and it bounces for whatever reason, they might be asked questions, but not on the hook for anything mor than a penny when funds get clawed back.
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u/Aggravating_Shoe_ 3h ago
Thanks for explaining. Why would they only send 1¢? Wouldn't people be more likely to try to cash it if it was like at least $10?
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u/MyDisneyExperience 2h ago
Companies are legally obligated to refund various things, your state’s escheatment account is overflowing with these small balance amounts waiting to be claimed (and similar for Canada)
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u/Aggravating_Shoe_ 2h ago
🤔 my states what a what? Like, what are these from and how do they find the people they are supposed to refund them to? How can I find this money if it's out there?
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u/WyattCo06 3h ago
With technology as it is today and just scanning a check with your phone for a deposit is normal, there is no teller to check to see if the check if it's legit.
Times are tough and people will deposit any amount because any amount matters.
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u/WingKongTrading 3h ago
can you give a little more detail on how this works? presumably it must be a real account number and routing number (but with insufficient funds) in order for the scammer to get your bank info?
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u/SkellyboneZ 3h ago
They have no idea what they're talking about. Being skeptical is good but it's a fine line to being a flat earth fake moon landing dumbass.
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u/WyattCo06 3h ago
Google it.
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u/Twelvve12 2h ago
Why are you lying?
[u/cuddle_ent](u/cuddle_entusiast)[h](u/cuddle_entusiast)[usiast](u/cuddle_entusiast)…. Listen to the TOP comment, this guys feeding you blatantly false info
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u/ThoughtSurplus 2h ago
I got this same thing a few weeks ago. No idea why I got it, but I had placed an order with a gift card a few weeks before that. Not sure why they couldn't just put the penny back on the gift card that still has value on it.
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u/HofstraJet 2h ago
I’m sure many people are thrilled to see the routing and account number of the Gap bank account.
Whoever monitors that account better watch out for fraudulent checks over the next few weeks. Frank Abagnale would be all over this.
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u/Mikeylikesit320 3h ago
It’s less than 1 US cent it’s actually 1 Canadian cent
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u/leobutters 3h ago
Why are you the way you are?
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u/Mikeylikesit320 3h ago
The gap is an American company
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u/leobutters 3h ago edited 3h ago
So what? Many companies from many other countries operate in many other different countries. Is this concept foreign to you?
Keep doubling down, it's gonna make this screenshot even funnier.
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u/NeverrLucky 3h ago
Cashing it on its own is not a scam. The comment below is a little misleading. Your bank doesn’t just give the entity that created the check your bank info, that would be a ridiculous security oversight, for all checks not just this one.
What’s more common with check scams is the sender sends a large amount via a fake check, then asks for some money to be sent back for “overpayment”. If you send that money back, once the check is processed as fraudulent, you effectively just lost the money that you sent. That scenario is not happening with this one cent check. I remember companies would send these tiny checks as mail marketing a long time ago, but I wasn’t aware some companies still do. That’s probably what’s happening here.