Why mailing a paper check has become so risky

Criminals use chemicals to “wash” away the recipent's name and dollar amount, and then rewrite the check to themselves.

From Mailbox To Bank Fraud: Check Theft Is Surging And How To Stop It

Mail theft and check fraud now cost Americans over $20 billion a year. Learn how checks are stolen, washed, and cashed—and ...

A County Mailed an $881 Check. Officials Say It Became a $20,881 Scam

A Tennessee county mailed a check for $881.08. By the time the payment was altered, officials said, it had become a ...
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‘Check washing’ costs Americans over $1 billion each year, says USPIS — how to spot it and protect your money

Despite seeming retro, check fraud is experiencing a surprising resurgence, with criminals stealing billions of dollars through these schemes. According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), ...
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‘Check washing’ scams still on the rise

(InvestigateTV) — Nasdaq quoted the BBB as claiming $815 million is lost each year due to check washing schemes. Check washing occurs when someone intercepts mail and uses household chemicals to “wash ...
AOL

Check washing cases rise in Manatee County: How to protect your mail from theft

BRADENTON, Fla. - If you're still writing checks and sending them in Manatee County, the sheriff’s office suggests keeping an eye on your bank account. There are more reports of checks sent in the ...
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Check washing is a very difficult crime to prevent, experts say. Here's what happened to business owners on Long Island.

Long Island business owners who went out of their way to pay bills the safe way, or so they thought, issued a warning on Tuesday. Their mail got stolen anyway. It's all part of a crime called check ...
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A Texas woman dropped off a check at the post office. Now she's out $12,000.

SPRING VALLEY VILLAGE, Texas — A Houston-area woman said she lost more than $12,000 after her property tax check was allegedly stolen and altered in a potential check-washing scheme. “You think you’re ...