Protecting Yourself is Key: Mail Theft, Checking Account Fraud and “Check Washing” are on the Rise

Seniors beware: Federal officials have reported a significant increase in mail theft and checking account fraud, including “check washing.”

All Clark County residents, but especially those who rely on checks as a safe way to pay bills, should be on guard. Anyone relying on checking accounts as a primary resource for bill paying should weigh the risks.

Check washing is when mail snatchers erase the ink on a check with chemicals found in common household cleaning products and then “reuse” the checks by rewriting them to themselves.

While the number of people using checks is decreasing, suspicious activity involving mail theft and checking account fraud doubled in 2022 compared to 2021, and the trend continues to rise. For people over 60 who have long relied upon checks as a safe and secure method of financial transactions, it’s a huge shift and, for many, completely opposite of the way they were raised.

A victim in a recent check washing scheme shared in the AARP Bulletin that the check written on his account looked perfect, noting every bit of ink was taken out of the check except his signature.

Protecting yourself is key. To do so, you should monitor your bank and credit card activity to catch any illegal activity quickly. Watch for unauthorized charges to credit cards or missing cash, as well as unauthorized withdrawals from your bank account.

For those who aren’t so tech savvy, USS suggests having a trusted family member or friend as a second set of eyes on accounts to help identify suspicious activities.

In addition to closely monitoring banking and credit card account, follow these tips for protecting yourself:

• Reduce the number of checks written by shifting to online bill payment with reliable encrypted accounts.
• Shred documents containing personal information.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary personal information (such as a social security card) in your wallet or purse.
• Be aware of callers with whom you are unfamiliar who ask for personal information, including banking or financial information or social security numbers.
• Use the post office’s inside drop boxes to send outgoing mail and not allowing delivered mail to sit in your mailbox. Collect it promptly every day, and if you will be gone, have it held at the post office until your return or have a neighbor or family member pick it up to hold for you until you get back.

If you find yourself a victim in this type of situation, you should report incidents as quickly as possible to protect yourself from further financial damage. Contact your banking institution and alert the following:

• Local law enforcement agencies, such as the Springfield Police Division, 937-324-7680, or the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, 937-328-2560
• Ohio Attorney General, 1-800-282-0515
• U.S. Postal Inspection Services