Have you ever heard of check washing fraud? It’s a simple yet clever scam that criminals will use to steal money that is rightfully yours, and they typically get away with it. Here’s how to avoid this scam from happening to you.
What is check washing fraud?
Check washing fraud is when important information is removed from an original check and new information is added on. Typically a scammer will use some sort of acetone solution such as nail polish remover to carefully remove the information on the check. They then will use the same type of ink that was originally used on the check, and as long as it looks close enough to the original handwriting, it will typically be cleared.
This allows the scammer to get the money that was supposed to belong to you, and you are left waiting weeks for your money to come. The worst part is that you do not have to be super-skilled to make this type of fraud successful. However, there are numerous ways to prevent this from happening to you if you follow the steps below.
How to avoid being a victim of check washing
The main way to avoid check washing is to try to pay online with a credit card whenever you can and avoid using checks altogether. Many services will have an online system for paying, so you’re better off using that option. If you do have to pay via check, see if there is a “bill pay” option. This will mean that the information will be printed onto a check and a scammer will not be able to remove the information.
If writing a check is the only form of payment you can make for a specific service, make sure you’re using a black gel pen, like this one. These types of pens have ink that can rarely be removed, which would be a serious issue for a scammer.
You should also be cautious of the steps you’re taking to mail a check. The safest place for you to mail a check would be the post office. However, if you do not have time to get there and can only mail from your home, just make sure that you’re never leaving a check in the mail overnight. This would give a criminal plenty of time to snatch it before your mail carrier can even get to it.
What if I’m away and expecting a check in the mail?
If you’re expecting a check to come for you in the mail and you know that you won’t be there to retrieve it, you can arrange for your mail to be held via the USPS Mobile app. The app is available for both iOS and Android phones.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
If you are outside the U.S., you can call your post office and let them know that you will be out of town and they will assist you. You can either arrange for your check to be delivered to you the following business day after you’re home, or go pick it up at your post office.
MORE: How to see photos of your mail before it arrives
How else can I protect myself?
If you think you’ve become the victim of a scam, contact the Better Business Bureau. You can file a complaint with them 24/7. Besides the BBB, you can also use IdentityTheft.org or call 877-438-4338 if you feel that your identity has been stolen or misused.
Use Identity theft protection
If you want a service that will walk you through every step of the reporting and recovery process, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from this type of fraud is to subscribe to an identity theft service.
My top recommendation is Identity Guard. Identity Guard will monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.
One of the best parts of using Identity Guard includes identity theft insurance of up to 1 million dollars to cover losses and legal fees and a white glove fraud resolution team where a US-based case manager helps you recover any losses.
Special for CyberGuy Readers: Save up to 51% with my top recommendation is Identity Guard.
More of my reviews of best identity theft protection services here.
Have you been a victim of check washing fraud before? Tell us about your experience.
Related:
- Best identity theft protection services 2023
- How to protect yourself against identity theft this tax season
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30 comments
“post office is safest”…haha but not foolproof! I recently mailed 2 birthday cards from TX to FL deposited directly at the post office here. One arrived intact in Orlando, the other arriving in W. Palm Beach had been opened with my brother’s birthday card replaced with a random card for someone else’s anniversary – who we don’t know LOL! “un”fortunately for the card thief they gained no money from it.
What do you do when USPS employees are stealing checks for resale on the dark web?
See “Federal Indictment Unsealed After U.S. Postal Employee And Two Co-Conspirators Are Arrested For $24 Million Stolen Check Scheme” on the Justice Dept website.
“Nakedra Shannon, 29, Donnell Gardner, 27, and Desiray Carter, 24, all of Charlotte, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and five counts of theft of government property. Carter and Gardner are also charged with seven counts of possession of stolen mail matter, and Shannon is charged with eight counts of theft of mail by a postal employee.
According to allegations in the indictment, from March 2021 to July 2023, Shannon was employed by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as a mail processing clerk at a USPS processing and distribution center in Charlotte. From April to July 2023, Shannon conspired with Gardner and Carter to steal incoming and outgoing checks from the U.S. mail, which Gardner and Carter then sold to other individuals including using the Telegram channel OG Glass House. Over the course of the conspiracy, the co-conspirators allegedly stole checks totaling more than $24 million, including more than $12 million in stolen checks which were posted for sale on the Telegram channel OG Glass House, and more than $8 million in stolen U.S. Treasury checks. The indictment also alleges that the defendants obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in criminal proceeds of the mail theft scheme.”
SMH.