Orlando woman accused of making fake checks

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orlando woman was arrested and is accused of identity theft and making fraudulent checks.

Police said the suspect, Barbara Banks, was squatting in an Orange County condominium until management reported her.

Investigators said they found Social Security cards, tax documents, bank cards in different people's names and check-making materials during a search of the condo Banks was staying in.

"They wiped out my whole thing, my whole check. They wiped it out, gone," said one victim, who didn't want to be identified.

The victim told WFTV he lost his bank card and soon after his account had been drained. Police said they found his name and account number inside Banks' condo.

According to investigators, Banks is a counterfeit check maker and has related criminal arrests dating back to 1996.

A shoplifting suspect, who was arrested at the Mall at Millenia with fake identification in his possession, led police officers to Banks, officials said. Documents state the man told detectives he was recruited by Banks to cash bogus checks.

The victim said he eventually got his money back, but not before having his card declined and having to wait on a bank investigation.

"Honestly, I think they got no heart and they don't care about nobody else, and whoever get caught, they need to be punished for it," said the victim.

According to police, Banks told investigators the check-making materials found in the condo are old and she hasn't made checks since 2005.

Banks has bonded out of the Orange County Jail.

WFTV