Call from my banker

[voltage1]

Monday I got a call from my banker (the one who knows me). He said he needed to ask me some questions about some recent activity in my personal checking account.He asked me about the money orders that I have been depositing lately.(about 3k in the last 2 months). I told him that they were from online casinos and that I had been lucky of late and that's where they were from.
Well this is where I messed up.. If I had been thinking I should have told him Ebay or something. Then I told him that the recent wire transfers(about 4k in the last 3 months) were from the same thing , gambling.
What a dumb ass move that was.But he is my banker,we have been friends for years !!!
Today (Wednesday) I got a envelope in the mail with his business card and a copy of "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (Reg GG) Notification"
this thing---------- Old Attachment (Invalid)
I Don't know what this means as far as my bank is concerned because I just got it when I got home and the bank is closed .
Maybe I need to call my lawyer before I call my banker!! Hell AM I IN TROUBLE?
What I want to know is How do I get by this when I want to cash out from a casino ? What are some of the rest of you having to do ? should I just cash the money orders at the post office ? But then I have to deposit the cash ,or most of it, into my bank somehow!! Jeez ya know it is a shame that I have to hide my own money from my bank!!
Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Volt

 

[cynthial]

Hi Volt,

Yuk! This stuff just gives me butterflies in the stomach. Makes you feel like a criminal. For me, if your preferred Casino sends Postal Money Orders then I would certainly cash out the Money Orders at the post office. ( or maybe even Wal-Mart) It has not yet reached the point in this Country where depositing cash into your bank should set off a signal unless it is over $10 grand. I recall when making large cash deposits for a company I worked for that $10,000 was the point at which the Bank would copy my Drivers Licence and they were required to do this each and every time I made a large one. I'm sure some others will come and give some more answers for you. Good luck to you.

 

[pevangel]

we can only hope that Barney Frank comes through in September and all the other 50 or more backing him up. I am sure some great mind (or many minds) on this forum can help you. I wish you luck.


pevangel

 

[Mousey]

Stay calm. I don't think the Feds will break down your door and haul you away. LOL However... I am interested to see how/what the BANK does. Are they going to confiscate the money? Send it back to wherever? or just let things ride? Ask that they be frank and above board with you and tell you what's happening and why.

I also assume the bank is going to hand over 'evidence' to the Feds... processors, MO #'s and such to try and track down the senders... (Expect processing problems, coming to a casino near you...soon....)

But you MUST find another bank if you keep putting casino checks/money orders in there.

And ... a far as I'm concerned... it was none of the banker's G-damned business where the money came from if you didn't get it selling illegal drugs, or such.

Sorry... I sound bossy, and I don't mean to be... The UIGEA mess is just SO stupid and idiotic and unfair -- it gets my knickers in a twist.

I wish you luck, and I do hope you let us know how this unfolds, as any of us that have put casino cash into our banks may get a similar phone call at any time.

 

[bryand]

Personally I would cool it with the checking account for a while. Maybe use QT to transfer directly to prepaid card? PM me if you need further info.

 

[jelsmith]

Can you tell us if it was a large chain bank like BofA etc? That SUCKS....my card gets turned off sometimes if i try to deposit somewhere that actually uses the gaming code but they just turn it right back on when i call them....and tell me that i cant use it for that....but thats about all they do

 

[love2winalot]

Hiya: hehe, not to kick someone when they are down, but if my best friend is from the IRS, and he ask where my new car came from, I am not gonna say, "From Tax evasion savings in my swiss bank account".......

Admiting to commiting a crime, in it's self, is not enough to get you into trouble. Someone has to PROVE, you commited the crime. You could just walk into the bank tomorrow, with the letter they sent you in hand, and say....

"OMG! You actually believed that. Gambling on the Internet? Come on, I do not look that stupid, do I?" The money orders are from my e bay and craigs list accounts selling xxxxxxxxx. hehe, ah hahaha, Internet Gambling.........hehehe.

NOW What is the bank going to do? As the above posters said, if turned over to the FBI, they could care less about you, and will go after the money processor, ie, whom ever sent the money orders.

Note: The check stubs from bodog say the following, " To avoid any unnecessary inconvenience when depositing or cashing this check, if asked, simply explain that this is a payment from a large online service provider and that the funds were sent to you at your request."

I have never been asked anything. Keep us infromed if you will, as to what happens. Thanks.

 

[DaveG39]

If your banker has known you for years, his sending you a copy of the UIGEA may just be a subtle hint that the bank is on to you now, and your online gambling days had better end, at least at his bank. You'd better hope so or else who knows what you may face (what are the penalties for violating UIGEA anyway?).

The only problems I've had with my bank (BofA) is if I try to deposit more than once in to short a period of time. Once I got an email from them asking me to verify "unusual activity" before I could use my card again, and once my card was denied at the casino. In the first case, one call to an automated toll-free number cleared things up. The second case my casino (Rushmore) was prepared for. On the screen next to the denile was "Click here to use our alternate processor". Entered my CC info again, and, since the withdrawal from my bank was from a different source, voila! Deposit successful.

 

[RobWin]

Monday I got a call from my banker (the one who knows me). He said he needed to ask me some questions about some recent activity in my personal checking account.He asked me about the money orders that I have been depositing lately.(about 3k in the last 2 months). I told him that they were from online casinos and that I had been lucky of late and that's where they were from.
Well this is where I messed up.. If I had been thinking I should have told him Ebay or something. Then I told him that the recent wire transfers(about 4k in the last 3 months) were from the same thing , gambling.
What a dumb ass move that was.But he is my banker,we have been friends for years !!!
Today (Wednesday) I got a envelope in the mail with his business card and a copy of "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (Reg GG) Notification"
this thing---------- Old Attachment (Invalid)
I Don't know what this means as far as my bank is concerned because I just got it when I got home and the bank is closed .
Maybe I need to call my lawyer before I call my banker!! Hell AM I IN TROUBLE?
What I want to know is How do I get by this when I want to cash out from a casino ? What are some of the rest of you having to do ? should I just cash the money orders at the post office ? But then I have to deposit the cash ,or most of it, into my bank somehow!! Jeez ya know it is a shame that I have to hide my own money from my bank!!
Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Volt

Hey Voltage, just take a chill pill and relax a little brother... Everything will be ok, here is a link for you and the others that may be interested in reading some about the "Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (Reg GG) Notification" It is from an online bankers forum called bankersonline.com

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

Still though, I hate thinking that I am the only one here that keeps at least half if not more of my cash in the freezer and buried in cans around about. What are the rest of you guys going to do for cash when the markets crash and the banks slam the doors shut in your face...

Old URL

____

____

 

[pevangel]

see, I told you that great minds were here:notworthy that would have the answers, makes me so proud to be a meister member I must say you all are so awesome here


pevangel

 

[RobWin]

H.R.2266

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Title: To delay for 1 year the date for compliance with certain regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System under subchapter IV of chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code.
Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] (introduced 5/6/2009) Cosponsors (35)
Latest Major Action: 5/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

SUMMARY AS OF:
5/6/2009--Introduced.

Reasonable Prudence in Regulation Act - Extends from December 1, 2009, to December 1, 2010, the deadline for compliance with specified regulations prohibiting the funding of unlawful Internet gambling (Regulation GG).

MAJOR ACTIONS:

***NONE***

ALL ACTIONS:

5/6/2009:
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

TITLE(S): (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(35), BY DATE [order is left to right]: (Sort: alphabetical order)


Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 5/14/2009
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 5/14/2009
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 5/14/2009
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 5/14/2009
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 5/14/2009
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] - 5/14/2009
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 5/21/2009
Rep McMahon, Michael E. [NY-13] - 5/21/2009
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 5/21/2009
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 5/21/2009
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 6/4/2009
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 6/4/2009
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 6/4/2009
Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] - 6/12/2009
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 6/12/2009
Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] - 6/19/2009
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 6/19/2009
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 6/19/2009
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] - 6/19/2009
Rep Young, Don [AK] - 6/23/2009
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 6/26/2009
Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 6/26/2009
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 6/26/2009
Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] - 7/7/2009
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 7/7/2009
Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] - 7/17/2009
Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] - 7/17/2009
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] - 7/17/2009
Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21] - 7/22/2009
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 7/22/2009
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 7/27/2009
Rep Maffei, Daniel B. [NY-25] - 7/28/2009
Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] - 7/31/2009
Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] - 7/31/2009
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 7/31/2009


COMMITTEE(S):

Committee/Subcommittee: Activity:
House Financial Services Referral, In Committee

RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

 

[LaurieJim]

I think you will be fine, like the others said, take a chill pill and relax, i never mix my personal banking with my gambling banking, as one of the other posters said get a pre paid card to deposit with and withdraw using Q.T, or have it put on the pre paid card, it keeps everthing straight imo, no bankers, no worries about overdrafts and you can sleep at night not thinking about the feds knocking on your door................laurie

 

[suzecat]

Doesn't the UIGEA make it illegal for banks/financial institutions to process gambling transactions? As far as I know it does not make gambling illegal for regular people - just banks

 

[johnsteed]

Weeding-out our liberties...

***

Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 5/14/2009

I love the list RobWin!


The only person who makes me want to care about politics. Even if he had gone the distance and had won the U.S. Presidential Election, he probably would have been shot during his Inauguration. Shame on the major networks for putting a muzzle on this great man (and kudos to Lou Dobbs for being one the only people who didn't do his best to weed him out).



I'm still getting flashbacks of those cruiserweight battles he had with:


- Chris Wallace (1st Rnd TKO)

- Brit Hume (draw)

- Sean Hannity (2nd Rnd TKO)

- Rudy Giuliani (1st Rnd TKO)


They all seem like Princeton guys to me.


* His only not-so-proud moment was on "The Morton Downey Jr Show" (thank you YouTube). Since then, wow!




Steed


***

 

[Westland Bowl]

.......I told him that they were from online casinos.... Then I told him that the recent wire transfers(about 4k in the last 3 months) were from the same thing , gambling. What a dumb ass move that was.....

My first reaction upon reading this was, "WHAAAT??? What the hell is he volunteering that kind of information???" but then I saw that you are a new member here. As with many situations in life, you have to say something without saying anything and that's the situation with banks and the UIEGA.

If I get a check from a casino, I deposit it via ATM versus the chance a teller "casually" asking about the origin of it. In my opinion, all they should care about is whether it clears or not. If I deposit cash in person, I would just say that I felt it was "safer" in the bank than staying under my mattress or something.

In my opinion, $3K or $4K over 2-3 months isn't a whole lot for a bank to be concerned about so I'm curious as to what brought this up to the bank's (and your friend's) attention? This must be one heck of a small bank for them to have the time and staff to do pattern analysis of each and every deposit in every account and personally contact the account holder. They have too much time on their hands to be so frickin' concerned about such amounts.

BTW, good to see you again, John Steed. You are needed.

 

[wickedmsmary]

I got a call from my bank on Monday, that I only use for my QT account and gambling.
They ask me where these charges are coming from
SOASO.ORG DUBAI AX
BUY365.TV DUBAI AX
LIVESUPPORT365.NET DUBAI AX ?

At first I was shocked, I asked why? The rep replied we have to check all transactions from online sites, and we want to make sure you made these transactions.
I told them I buy and sell stuff online. the rep replied: OH ok thank you.

 

[voltage1]

quick update 12:00 EDT

I spoke with my banker this morning he said that this is something that they are just now starting to enforce .He said that he was advised by some one in the banks internal auditing to send me a copy of the UIGEA and "From this point on they can no longer handle transaction of this nature through this account ".


Long story short ...My dumb ass told the truth not really thinking it was a problem .... BUT....IMHO its none of their GD business ... I WILL learn (from here and where ever else I can find) how to get by this .. I will no longer use this bank and I told my banker that I would probably change banks completely!!
I will have more time to respond later when I get home from work ..just wanted you guys to know That I really appreciate the information and response that you Have given
thanks all of you

Volt

 

[oldtrvlagt]

You know, it is unfortunate in this country that we have to do the things we do, because of someone else. If I make the money, why can't I spend the money as I see fit? It's o.k. if I win $1,000 on a scratch off ticket that I spent $1 on because the states are making money off everyone that had a losing ticket. But if I win $1000 online with a small investment (or large) I have to get creative if I want to put the money in my own bank account

After retiring basically from being in travel for a number of years I worked out of my house. I use my travel account for online gambling so that no one anymore thinks it weird when I get a charge from a bicycle shop in Dubai...and yes I have received those phone calls. QT doesn't say "QT" when they send a wire so you could be selling old coins online to someone in Europe but it shouldn't be the banks business. Unfortunately some think it is. Moneygrams from a casino...cashem in at Walmart..they don't care. Keep the cash and buy groceries for 6 months...buy a new T.V. Figure how much you are going to gamble for a few months and leave that in QT. But first and foremost.....don't volunteer information and keep the answers short Good luck out there

 

[love2winalot]

Hiya: Not to defend the banks, Buuuuuuuuut, when this law was passed, the banks were to first to complain, asking, "How are we suppose to know", where the money came from?

Kind of like a 19 year old buying beer with an out of state fake ID. How is the clerk at 7-11 suppose to know? imhop, the smaller the town you live in, and or, the smaller the bank, the more likely it is that this will happen once in a while. There is a way around this........

OPEN A BUSINESS ACCOUNT. It is free, does not require a license unless you want one, and is treated differently by banks than normal checking accounts.

Business name=Your Name / Mastery of Poker. free
Tripod web site=Your name / Mastery of poker. free
Pay pal account= same as above, also free

Now you win gambling online. You get a check or money order paid to/ Your name. Deposit into Business account. = Bank: "what is mastery of poker"?
You: "I sell Poker information on the internet to people all over the world. How to get into the WSOP by winning tournaments, or how to Win local tournaments in their area, and so on. I sell them the information, and i get a portion of their winnings."

or any such thing. It does not have to even be gambling releated. Homemade cookies, or international travel, or anything you can think of, that you have at least a little knowledge about. Yea it is a couple of extra steps, or loops to jump thru, but what if you actually WON BIG? Now, not are you only worried if the Casino will actually pay you or not, even if they do, you have to worry if your bank will let you keep the money.

Follow up tip: YOU can go buy a money order, and then deposit it into your bank account. You will Lose the $2.50 or what ever the money order cost, but doing this a few times will establish the pattern of you depositing money orders. The Bank wants and needs your money. But they also do not want to be fined for breaking the law.

 

[footdr]

To Be Safe......

SAR regulations require Banks to file a report of Suspicious Activity. Hopefully, they chose to give you a warning and not report it. But if the Audit Department intiated this then I would suspect they filed the report. I would not deposit anything else into this account. I would also make traditional transactions for say one months time and then close this account, which will more than likely stop any further investigation of your account.

 

[voltage1]

Well, I like some of the suggestion that you guys have given me .

I still have a resellers license from when i used to sell stuff on Ebay . I'm thinking I will have to have it to open a business checking account.I may go that route but not for awhile.
I think for now I will use either a "Wired Plastic" visa or my QT account . I have other banks accounts at other banks that I could deposit into QT with .. ..
I will follow the advice of footdr and leave the original account alone except for normal transactions...then close it.

The bank that initiated the letter is No small bank it is a national bank and as far as I know is in all the states up and down the east coast .

I have learned not to be so oblivious to the fact that I have to hide my gambling transactions !!! I'm digging a hole as we speak ...I'm going deep deep underground...LOL...

Its a shame but a fact that you have to learn to think like a criminal in order to hide you own money from "THEM". whomever they are!!!!

I haven't had a knock on my door yet and don't guess I will.


I want to thank you for all Of your comments and suggestions


Thanks
Volt

 

[NASHVEGAS]

What are the rest of you guys going to do for cash when the markets crash and the banks slam the doors shut in your face...

Head South man!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pay your taxes, do not structure and/or launder, do not worry

 

[RobWin]

Head South man!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pay your taxes, do not structure and/or launder, do not worry

I hear

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is really nice with brown sugar beaches, bohemian neighborhoods and a pulsating nightlife that will leave you teaching phrasal verbs to the babes with sore feet from dancing the samba all night! Wanna take a ride?

 

[4 of a kind]

I use a separate checking account (debit card) for all my online transactions. I usually load it then unload it quickly, always in fear of crooks gaining access to my account from all the online crap I do. In the past all winnings were wired directly to that account. When I get the separate statement in the mail just for the bank wire transaction, the sender is always some consulting firm or something, and my bank charges me a $25.00 dollar fee. I'm sure they know it comes from out of country cause you have to get a special code from your bank when you want to receive an international wire the first time, and its always posted somewhere in the wire notice I receive in the mail. Ever since that first request you should log that number and have it on hand not having to call the bank every time you want to wire from some place new. Been receiving them with no problems or questions from any bank I use as of yet. Did receive checks or money orders also in the past, but usually for smaller amounts, and never saw the casino or poker sites name on those.

What I don't like is that on my bank statements it shows poker stars name or casino names usually mixed in between a phone number or something. Sometimes its like some strange name and the only way I know its the casino is by the amount. This is the reason I never always make same amount deposits. I'll do like 200 then 202 then 204 etc. etc.. in the same week so I know for sure which casino was paid.

Since the new law in 2006, I now change my online bank every year and a half. I'm actually ready for another bank change in October.

I certainly keep online and home separate.

P.S. Just leave a couple of dollars in that account or just close it and get another bank. No big deal here, nothing to fear. (but if you do get locked up please let us know) LOL

 

[Dinahnana]

HI I just recently opened an ewallet xpress account in order to circumvent these stupid laws. Anyway will I have any trouble using this account to fund my online gambling? Is it iligeal for my bank to send the money to ewallet Xpress? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[wickedmsmary]

(but if you do get locked up please let us know)

Their not going to lock you up, the most they'll do is freeze your account.

 

[4 of a kind]

Their not going to lock you up, the most they'll do is freeze your account.

The lock you up comment was intended for a laugh... As far as them freezing his account for a couple of thousand dollars is almost just as funny.

 

[cynthial]

HI I just recently opened an ewallet xpress account in order to circumvent these stupid laws. Anyway will I have any trouble using this account to fund my online gambling? Is it iligeal for my bank to send the money to ewallet Xpress? Inquiring minds want to know.

I fund my ewallet directly from my B of A checking account. Dozens and dozends of times. So far so good. Getting a substantial amount back from the wallet to the bank takes up to 10 days for the wire and fees on both ends but it all works well enough. Knock on wood.

 

[binshakindown]

Be warned that I once used wired plastic

and had money wired to it. US Bank Corp called me due to a $6K bank wire transfer being put into it. They asked me where I got the money and I told them that my anut in another country sent it to me because I needed money. The lady told me that I couldn't do that. I replied nowhere in my t&c did it say that. I told her to send me the T&C. Of course they didn't, but they processed it. The funny thing about this whole stupid thing is that they don't know where the wires come from.


Also, please note that although the US fed notification amount is 10k or more, I'm not sure it only happens at those amounts. I heard from a financial friend of mine that each bank sets their own notification limits and many are as low as $3k. Ever notice how the maximum for any pre-paid debit card is $2.5k? Why not up to the fed limit of $10k? Or even $9.9k. Some time in the 90's the feds tried to legally get the limit lowered to $5k but that didn't work out for them and I think they were really sad about that.

Anyway, good luck with your wired plastic account.

 

[AussieDave]

$10,000 was the point at which the Bank would copy my Drivers Licence and they were required to do this each and every time I made a large one.

It's the same here in Australia apart from the show of ID.
But the ATO (Australian Tax Office) is informed by aussie banks on all deposits over $10K.

I use a Visa Debit card sometimes to deposit gambling funds. Out of the blue I received a similar stupid money laundering notice from my bank also.

What gets me really riled up though...We have kids (early to late 20's) cruising around in Ferraris and other exotics that obviously are the proceeds of drug money & nothing gets done.

I'm at the post office and these two middle eastern types (both together) go to separate counters and hand over what looked like 1000's of dollars being sent via Western Union.

You don't think that looked bit suss...

Whereas people doing the right thing and declaring income get shafted...go figure!

I certainly can't



Cheers
T

 

[AussieDave]

Ever notice how the maximum for any pre-paid debit card is $2.5k?

Yeah your right...lol

I was using a certain bank ATM here to withdraw NT funds. But for some unknown reason that just wont allow me to withdraw any more. I tried two times on 3 separate occasions and it said unable to process this transaction. I stopped trying for fear of having my card eaten.

Now I go around and use different ATM's in different suburbs and banks. I'm starting feel really shifty & I hate that feeling. But what else can I do? Hell the cash ends up in my bank account anyway...But if I wire it all in I get hassled by the bank then...Besides there is no UIEGA here which makes this all the worst.

What really has me shaking my head about the law makers is they are so damn stupid. If I was doing dodgy stuff the last thing I'd do is to deposit that money into a bank account.

Least one that uses my real identity


Cheers
T

 

[rockycatt]

these wannabe dictator thinking politicians are thinking fleet of assets
thing with the gaming money but dont want to go that far as act like a
developing country

because when they buy all there yachts and beech front condos all around the world its the same thing the money got legs j m o

 

[bryand]

Hiya: Not to defend the banks, Buuuuuuuuut, when this law was passed, the banks were to first to complain, asking, "How are we suppose to know", where the money came from?

OPEN A BUSINESS ACCOUNT. It is free, does not require a license unless you want one, and is treated differently by banks than normal checking accounts.

Hmmmm, me thinks this creates an unnecessary paper trail. Failure to file corporate tax returns is a felony I do believe (unless you're a sole proprietorship in which you're supposed to file a d/b/a or ficticious name affidavit with the secretary of state). Then once you're on the US gov't radar you have to report annually to your state whether you have employees. You need a federal taxpayer ID#. Eeeeek. And you're subject to audit by your county of residence for business ad valorem taxes. And what about a business license, and............