| Scams aren’t always high tech, and they aren’t always new. Stealing checks from the mail and “washing” them used to be a common crime but faded away over time. Now it’s back with a vengeance. In 2021, the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) received 33,000 reports of incidents involving mail carrier robberies and mail theft, up from 24,000 in 2019.More from the AARP Fraud Watch Network•Learn More About Fake Check Scams•How to Prevent ID Theft•Do you think you have been targeted or have fallen victim to a scam? Contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. Call 877-908-3360. |
| How It Works• Residential mailboxes with the raised flag that indicates outgoing mail are a big draw for criminals since they often contain bill payments with personal checks included.•Thieves also go “fishing” inside the blue mailboxes by inserting long flexible items with adhesive on the end in hopes of pulling out checks.•Another way into mailboxes is to steal a master key from a postal worker. These “arrow keys” open multiple mailboxes and sell for between $5,000 and $10,000 on the black market.•Once they have a personal check, thieves “wash” the ink off with household chemicals and fill it out to a new recipient for whatever amount they wish. Often, they will apply super glue on the signature to keep it intact. What You Should Know• Mail theft cases used to be more prevalent on the West Coast; however, USPIS has recently seen more incidents in the eastern US, particularly around Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, DC.•Rather than cashing forged checks themselves, criminals often sell the “washed” checks through online black-market channels, with personal checks fetching around $175 a pop.•Financial institutions typically make your account whole in the case of forged checks, but the investigation could take weeks, leaving you without access to funds during that time. What You Should Do• Bring checks inside the post office for mailing, or, if you choose to deposit mail containing checks, cash or sensitive personal information in collection boxes, do so as close to the indicated pickup time as possible.•When you put outgoing mail in your mailbox, don’t put up the flag and try not to leave outgoing mail in your mailbox for long periods of time.•Keep an eye on your account balances and report any suspicious activity right away.•Sign up for Informed Delivery from the US Postal Service. It’s a free daily service that emails you a scan of what is coming in your mail. Also, place a hold on your mail when out of town. |