Have you ever sent a check that was cashed, but the recipient said it never arrived? You may be the victim of check washing.
Check washing scams involve the process of erasing details from checks, usually with a chemical solvent, to allow them to be rewritten, usually for criminal purposes such as fraudulent withdrawal from the victim's bank account. Thieves alter checks by changing the amount or the payee’s name. Then, they cash the check over the counter, deposit it into a new account and withdraw the funds before anyone detects anything.
Some scammers will even use copiers or scanners to print fake copies of a check. In fact, Postal Inspectors recover more than $1 billion in counterfeit checks and money orders every year, but you can take steps to protect yourself.
Protect yourself by:
Check washing scams involve the process of erasing details from checks, usually with a chemical solvent, to allow them to be rewritten, usually for criminal purposes such as fraudulent withdrawal from the victim's bank account. Thieves alter checks by changing the amount or the payee’s name. Then, they cash the check over the counter, deposit it into a new account and withdraw the funds before anyone detects anything.
Some scammers will even use copiers or scanners to print fake copies of a check. In fact, Postal Inspectors recover more than $1 billion in counterfeit checks and money orders every year, but you can take steps to protect yourself.
Protect yourself by:
- Depositing mail before the last pickup or in blue collection boxes before the last pickup or at your local Post Office™.
- Retrieving mail frequently. Never leave your mail in your mailbox overnight.
- Holding mail at Post Office.
- Using black ink.
- Using a gel pen.
- Using online payment methods when possible.