By Fred Flamer
This is one of those scams that many people have never heard of, yet it continues to happen every day.
The crime is known as Check Washing, and believe me, it is alive and well.
Check washing is a form of financial fraud in which criminals steal paper checks and use chemicals to remove, or "wash," the ink from certain portions of the check. Typically, the payee name and dollar amount are removed while the original signature remains intact.
Once those fields have been erased, the criminal can rewrite them however they choose.
The result is a legitimate check with fraudulent information.
This is one of the reasons seniors are often targeted. Many older adults still prefer paying bills through the mail rather than online, which creates opportunities for criminals looking to intercept outgoing checks.
How It Happens
Let me share a scenario that illustrates how this crime can occur.
A group of methamphetamine enthusiasts were looking for what they referred to as a "lick" or an easy score.
Rather than committing a complicated crime, they chose a simpler approach.
They drove through neighborhoods and began what is sometimes referred to as "front-running" the mail carrier.
In simple terms, they were stealing outgoing mail from residential mailboxes before the postal carrier had an opportunity to collect it.
Think of it as a twisted treasure hunt.
Mailbox after mailbox.
Street after street.
Collecting envelopes and hoping to find something valuable.
Eventually, they accumulated enough stolen mail and transported it to another location where the sorting process began.
What were they looking for?
Checks.
Utility payments.
Insurance payments.
Mortgage payments.
Cable bills.
Any envelope that might contain a negotiable instrument.
And unfortunately, they found plenty.
The Washing Process
Once the checks were obtained, chemicals were applied to remove the ink from the payee line and the dollar amount line.
With those fields erased, the criminals could rewrite the information however they wanted.
The check that was originally intended for a utility company could suddenly be made payable to someone entirely different.
The amount could also be increased significantly.
Those altered checks were then often cashed using fraudulent identification or negotiated through individuals willing to look the other way.
The original account holder frequently had no idea anything was wrong until reviewing a bank statement days or weeks later.
Why This Crime Is So Effective
One reason check washing continues to succeed is because many people assume that once a check is placed in the mailbox, the transaction is essentially complete.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
A check sitting in an unsecured mailbox can be an attractive target for someone looking for quick money.
Criminals understand this.
And they know that many people are still sending payments through the mail every day.
How To Protect Yourself
Fortunately, there are several simple steps that can significantly reduce your risk.
Use Online Bill Pay When Possible
Electronic payments eliminate the risk of a physical check being stolen from the mail stream.
Avoid Leaving Outgoing Mail in Residential Mailboxes
If possible, do not leave checks sitting in an unsecured mailbox waiting for pickup.
Drop Mail Directly at the Post Office
A secure postal collection box or post office location is generally safer than leaving outgoing mail unattended.
Use Permanent Black Gel Ink
Many financial institutions and fraud investigators recommend black gel ink because it penetrates paper fibers more effectively and is often more resistant to chemical washing than some other types of ink.
Monitor Your Accounts
Review your bank activity regularly.
The sooner fraudulent activity is detected, the faster corrective action can be taken.
Enable Account Alerts
Many banks allow customers to receive notifications when checks clear, large transactions occur, or unusual account activity is detected.
These alerts can provide an early warning that something is wrong.
Final Thoughts
Check washing may sound like an old-fashioned crime, but it remains surprisingly effective.
The reason is simple:
Criminals tend to follow the path of least resistance.
If they can steal a check from a mailbox and turn it into hundreds or thousands of dollars with a few chemicals and a fake ID, many will happily take that route.
The good news is that a few small changes in how you send payments can dramatically reduce your exposure or so-called personal "attack surface".
Sometimes the best defense is simply understanding how the scam works before you become the victim of it.
-Fin-
#CheckWashing #SeniorSecurityAware #SeniorCyberScams
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