Check Washing & Mail Theft - Protect Your Payments

⭐📬 CHECK WASHING & MAIL THEFT — PROTECT YOUR PAYMENTS

Tax season means more checks moving through the mail — and that makes it prime time for mail theft and check washing. Criminals steal checks from mailboxes, chemically erase the ink, and rewrite them for larger amounts. By the time the fraud is discovered, the money may already be gone.

💬 COMMON SCHEMES SCAMMERS USE:

• Stealing outgoing mail directly from residential mailboxes.

• Targeting checks dropped in public blue collection boxes.

• Washing checks and altering the payee and dollar amount.

• Using stolen personal information to commit additional fraud.

🚨 WARNING SIGNS:

• Checks that never reach their destination.

• Unauthorized withdrawals from your account.

• Altered check images in your online banking.

• Unexpected account balance changes.

🛡️ PROTECT YOURSELF:

• Avoid leaving outgoing mail in your mailbox overnight.

• Drop checks inside your local post office when possible.

• Use permanent black gel ink when writing checks.

• Monitor your account frequently during tax season.

• Consider using electronic payments when available.

🧰 HELPFUL RESOURCES:

• FTC: IdentityTheft.gov

• FBI: Mail Theft-Related Check Fraud is on the Rise

• AARP: 6 Ways You Can Thwart Check Washers

• USPIS: Check Washing

📍 IF YOU THINK YOU’RE BEING TARGETED:

1. Contact your bank immediately to report unauthorized activity.

2. Place a stop payment on missing checks.

3. Report stolen mail to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

4. Monitor your credit and accounts closely.