Check washing isn’t a new scam, but it’s still one worth paying attention to.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service continues to warn consumers about criminals stealing checks from the mail, altering the payee name or dollar amount, and depositing the changed check. In some cases, chemicals are used to remove the original ink. In others, stolen checks are copied or used to create counterfeit versions.
The good news is that a few small changes can make your checks harder to alter and reduce the chances that they are stolen in the first place.
1. Use indelible black ink
The type of pen you use matters.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service recommends using a pen with indelible black ink, which can make it more difficult for a criminal to remove what you’ve written and replace it with different information.
Avoid erasable pens or anything that can easily be removed from the check.
2. Don’t leave extra room
When you fill out the payee and dollar amount, use the available space.
Avoid leaving large blank areas before or after the name of the person or business you’re paying.
3. Be careful where you leave outgoing mail
A completed check sitting in a mailbox can be an easy target.
If possible, take outgoing mail containing a check directly inside the Post Office. If you use a USPS collection box, deposit it before the final pickup of the day and don’t leave mail in your mailbox overnight.
4. Pay attention after you mail it
Sending the check isn’t the end of the process.
Keep an eye on your account and make sure the check clears for the amount you wrote and to the person or business you intended to pay.
If the recipient says the payment never arrived but you see that the check has already cleared your account, that can be a warning sign of check washing.
5. Act quickly if something doesn’t look right
If you notice an altered check or another transaction you don’t recognize, contact GCSB as soon as possible.
The sooner you report suspicious activity, the sooner the bank can help you review what happened and determine the next steps. Mail-related check theft can also be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Check washing may be an old scam, but criminals continue to find opportunities to use it. If you still write and mail checks, being thoughtful about how you fill them out, where you mail them and how you monitor your account afterward can make a real difference.