Massive U.S. Treasury Check Fraud Busted in Cheyenne

A woman was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after attempting to deposit nearly $1 million worth of fraudulent U.S. Treasury check into a newly opened bank account. The incident raised red flags due to inconsistencies in the woman's information and the suspicious appearance of the check, which had been "washed" to remove payee details. Bank personnel held the check for further investigation, leading to the involvement of federal agents, who confirmed the check's authenticity but questioned the woman's identity.

U.S. Treasury Check Fraud Allegation: Woman Faces Federal Charges

Cheyenne, Wyoming - WyHy Federal Credit Union in Cheyenne has reportedly uncovered and thwarted the largest alleged case of check fraud in its history, involving an attempt to deposit a nearly $1 million U.S. Treasury check using someone else's name.

On Monday, a woman identified as Pamela Kubesh, 55, of Wisconsin, entered a Cheyenne bank and opened an account under the name "NJR," a resident of Los Angeles, California. Initially, the process proceeded smoothly, with Kubesh presenting a California driver's license and claiming to have moved to Wyoming for work.

However, when asked for her Social Security number, Kubesh hesitated and referred to a document. The fact that her Social Security number was issued in 2011 further aroused the suspicion of bank employees.

Following the account opening, Kubesh presented a Treasury check for $985,020, payable to "NJR." While the check appeared genuine, an investigation by Federal Treasury Special Agent Bradley Peters revealed that part of the payee information had been removed, indicating that the check had been "washed."

Kubesh successfully deposited the check, but the bank extended the usual 30-hour hold on cashing funds from a new account to nine business days due to the questionable circumstances.

Later, Kubesh returned to the bank with a man she identified as her nephew, attempting to add him to the account. Bank employees noticed irregularities with the nephew's Social Security number and felt uneasy about his brand-new driver's license, prompting them to contact the branch manager.

With mounting concerns, bank officials reached out to Special Agent Peters and checked a shared banking database, which revealed that Kubesh had attempted to open an account at another Cheyenne credit union shortly before coming to WyHy.

During a subsequent visit to the bank, Kubesh inquired about access to her online bank account, which was not functioning. Bank personnel contacted the police, who approached the bank while an employee stalled Kubesh, feigning issues with the account system.

Check fraud in the United States has surged in recent years, with reports nearly doubling from 2021 to 2022. Fraudsters commonly target the U.S. Mail system to steal checks, particularly those related to COVID-19 stimulus and benefit payouts.

WyHy Federal Credit Union officials emphasized the seriousness of check fraud and commended their staff for their vigilance in preventing such attempts. They noted that WyHy's maximum daily cash-out limit of $5,000 would have prevented Kubesh from cashing the entire $985,020 check, even if she had succeeded in depositing it without detection.

Pamela Kubesh is currently facing federal charges for defrauding the United States government. The case highlights the importance of financial institutions exercising vigilance and the ongoing threat of check fraud in the digital age.