Check Washing

You may have heard the term “check washing” at one time or another.

Check washing fraud involves stealing mail, using chemicals (like acetone or bleach) to erase the payee and amount on checks.  Then the thief rewrites the check for higher amounts often stealing thousands of dollars.

Here are a few tips to prevent check washing:

• Fraudsters target blue mailboxes and home mailboxes to steal checks.  Then they cash them leaving your signature intact.  It is recommended you take your mail directly to the post office rather that drop it off in a blue mailbox.
• When writing out personal checks, you should use a “GEL INK PEN”.  That type of pen makes it nearly impossible to alter a check.
• You should check your bank account history on a regular basis to keep track of all transactions.  By doing so, you can see who has cashed your check.  If you suspect a check you have written does not appear to have been cashed by the intended recipient, contact your financial institution immediately.