Protect Yourself from Check Washing Fraud
Criminals are using a sneaky tactic called “check washing” to steal your money. They intercept your mailed check, “wash” off the ink, and rewrite it to cash for themselves. This fraud puts not only personal checks at risk but also business checks, tax refunds, and government benefits.
What is Check Washing?
Check washing scams involve changing the payee names and often the dollar amounts on checks before fraudulently depositing them. These checks are often stolen from mailboxes and washed in chemicals to remove the ink. In some cases, scammers will even use copiers or scanners to print fake copies of a check.
The United States Postal Inspection Service recovers more than $1 billion in counterfeit checks and money orders every year.
Learn more about check fraud from the United States Postal Inspection Service.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
Taking a few simple steps can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim.
- Go Digital! The best defense is to eliminate the use of paper checks whenever possible. Switch to electronic payment methods like ACH (automatic clearing house) or even wire transfers for secure funds transfers.
- Stay Vigilant! If you must send a paper check, monitor your account closely. We recommend logging into your online or mobile banking app daily to confirm that checks have cleared for the correct amount and have been cashed by the correct person.
- Act Fast! Always alert your bank immediately if you notice anything suspicious. The sooner you report a fraudulent transaction, the better your chances of a successful resolution.
Additional Ways to Protect Your Mail
- Deposit Mail Before Last Pickup: Place your outgoing mail in blue collection boxes before the last pickup time or, even better, drop it off directly at your local Post Office.
- Retrieve Mail Frequently: Never leave your mail in your mailbox overnight.
- Hold Mail at Post Office: If you’re going on vacation, have your mail held at the Post Office or ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick it up for you.
