Bank accuses Riverhead man of fraud after he was trying to cash his annuity check
Malik Washington, 28, of Riverhead says he was trying to get the check for over two weeks.
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The son of a man killed on 9/11 is being accused of fraud by the bank after trying to cash the annuity check he gets every few months.
Malik Washington, 28, of Riverhead, says he was trying to get the check for over two weeks.
"It was an annuity check that I had set up for my children when their dad passed away in Sept. 11. So this had been this is a was an ongoing thing since the time that they turned 18," says Malik's mother Kiesha Washington.
The check is from MetLife.
Malik went to go deposit the most recent one at the Chase Bank in Riverhead on Jan. 9.
"I'd say over ten checks I've deposited before, so it shouldn't have been any problem," says Malik.
He was then accused of fraud while at the bank.
He says the check then cleared the next day but says the bank still wouldn't release the money because it was believed to be fraudulent.
"You're practically saying that I'm a fraud, that I'm a scam artist," says Malik.
Malik says he got a call from Chase Wednesday morning, saying he can come pick up the check.
"It was a big relief because at that point it was like, OK, we're officially done now," he says.
Malik and Kiesha say both of their accounts have now been closed with no explanation.
"There was no fraudulent activity there was no suspicious activity on either one of the accounts nobody could give us an explanation," says Kiesha Washington.
A Chase spokesperson sent News 12 the following statement:
"This check was flagged for additional review, and while we apologize for the delay, we are glad Mr. Washington received the funds in full earlier today."
