Scammers are stealing checks from the mail. Here’s how to protect yours

WAIT WAIT LET ME EXPLAIN IT PROPERLY BECAUSE APPARENTLY MY AUNT IS LIVID ABOUT THE MAIL SERVICE RIGHT NOW. SHE IS LOSING HER MIND BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FISHING CHECKS OUT OF THE MAIL AND "WASHING" THEM TO CHANGE THE PAYEE! WHICH IS WILD BECAUSE ACCORDING TO FOX NEWS THIS IS NOT JUST SOME RANDOM THING, IT IS SURGING BIG TIME. THE TREASURY SAYS CHECK FRAUD LITERALLY DOUBLED BETWEEN 2021 AND 2023, AND POSTAL INSPECTORS ARE PULLING BACK OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN COUNTERFEIT CHECKS EVERY SINGLE YEAR! IT SOUNDS LIKE A MOVIE BUT APPARENTLY THEY TAKE THE INK OFF AND RE-WRITE IT TO THEMSELVES. IT IS JUST MESSY. MY AUNT SAYS STOP MAILING CHECKS IF YOU CAN HELP IT OR ELSE. ANYWAY THAT IS ALL I KNOW, GENUINELY.

TBH THIS ONE IS WILD BECAUSE THE FINANCIAL CRIMES ENFORCEMENT NETWORK SAYS THE NUMBERS ON THIS ARE ABSOLUTELY INSANE. APPARENTLY PEOPLE ARE STEALING MAIL OUT OF BOXES AND WASHING THE CHECKS SO THEY CAN CASH THEM THEMSELVES, AND IT DOUBLED IN JUST TWO YEARS! WE ARE TALKING OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN FAKE CHECKS BEING RECOVERED ANNUALLY. THE ARTICLE SAYS YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW IT HAPPENED UNTIL YOUR BILL PAYMENT GETS DECLINED AT THE BANK. IT IS A TOTAL NIGHTMARE SCENARIO WHERE YOUR PAYMENTS TO INSURANCE OR HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS JUST VANISH INTO THIN AIR BECAUSE SOME SCAMMER IS MESSING WITH THE INK. IT IS HAPPENING TO REAL FAMILIES ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT AND IT IS TERRIFYING. ANYWAY I HOPE SOMEBODY IS WRITING THIS DOWN.

Check fraud rates doubled between 2021 and 2023, with postal inspectors recovering over $1 billion in counterfeit checks annually as scammers wash mailed payments.

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