February 18, 2026
With digital payments largely dominating how we deposit money and pay bills, it’s easy to believe that old-fashioned paper check crimes are no longer an issue. Unfortunately, check fraud is highly prevalent, and understanding how to protect yourself is as vital as ever.
According to the United States Postal Inspection Service, there has been an increase in mail theft complaints, with many targeting checks.
In addition to the stress and worry of experiencing financial fraud, the economic impact extends beyond the individual victim. Banks and credit unions are forced to absorb losses when they cannot recover funds from the perpetrators. These costs are then frequently passed on to customers through higher fees.
Check fraud is a financial crime in which a person or group of people uses someone else’s checks to obtain money or goods illegally. It's one of the oldest types of financial crime, and it has evolved with technology.
There are several forms of check fraud, including forged signatures, counterfeit checks, altered checks, and check washing schemes. Check washing has become increasingly popular and is one of the most challenging types of fraud to track, mainly because it can alter legitimate checks.
Check washing is the process of chemically altering a legitimate check to change the payee name, the amount, or both. Someone can simply steal a check from your mailbox and chemically erase the ink from certain parts of the check using common household chemicals like acetone or bleach. Certain parts of the check’s ink are erased (most commonly, the amount it’s written for) while others, such as the account holder’s name and signature, are left intact.
What makes check washing so effective is that the original signature remains. When the forged or altered check is presented for payment, it has the authentic signature of the account holder. This fact makes it harder for banks to detect wrongdoing and easier for fraudulent checks to go undetected.
After being “washed”, the check is rewritten with a new payee name and an amount of the criminal’s choosing. In just a few minutes, someone can easily turn your check for $75.00 into one for $75,000.
Then the thief can simply deposit the check at a bank, at an ATM, or through a mobile app as usual. They will often use a fake identity to avoid prosecution or keep several accounts ready under different names.
There are several ways you can protect yourself from check washing and other forms of check fraud. Many of these preventions are simple ways to increase the security of your checks and finances.
Keep Your Checks Safe
A seemingly obvious but often overlooked step to protect yourself from check fraud is to keep your checkbook in a safe, private spot in your home or office. Put your checkbook away when you have company over, or someone you don’t know enters your home or workspace. You can also invest in a small safe to keep it secure, along with other sensitive documents such as birth certificates and Social Security cards. Be sure to never share your routing or bank account information with anyone unauthorized.
Retrieve Your Mail from the Mailbox Every Day
The frequency with which you check your mailbox can help deter criminals from stealing your checks and other important mail. If you aren’t able to regularly retrieve your mail or want to know what to expect each day, you can sign up for the Informed Delivery service through the USPS. When you sign up, the service will send you email notifications that show you a picture of any letter-sized mail you’ll be receiving that day.
Use the Right Pen Ink
Helping prevent check washing and other fraud from affecting your family and finances can be as easy as choosing the right pen. Certain gel and ballpoint pens are particularly vulnerable to the chemicals used in check washing.
With the increasing prevalence of check washing, some pen manufacturers are marketing security check pens specifically designed to help prevent fraud. Brands like Uni-Ball sell high-quality ink pens that are resistant to chemical washing. The 207 pen line boasts Super Ink technology that doesn’t “smear, fade, or wash away”.
Fill in the Blanks
In addition to using a new pen, you should also always fill out a check completely. Many times, bad actors can easily write themselves a check in your name using blank spaces left on a check. Be sure to fill out a check completely, including the Payee and Amount lines. The more work for the fraudster, the better. Using high-security checks like Foil Holographic or SecuDocs adds an even stronger level of protection.
Drop Checks Off In Person
One way to minimize your risk of having a check stolen is to drop off mail in a Post Office mailbox. Alternatively, depositing your check in the USPS blue collection boxes right before the day’s last pickup is another tip offered by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USIPS).
When mailing checks from home, avoid raising the flag on your mailbox in case criminals are keeping watch.
Use High Security Checks
Checks featuring Holographic Foil or SecuDocs® High Security Checks line offer multiple levels of protection against fraud. These products combine visual and covert security features to confirm the check’s authenticity and make counterfeits instantly detectable.
Set Up Positive Pay at Your Bank
Positive Pay is an automated fraud detection tool offered by most banks' Cash Management Department. Essentially, the service matches the account number, check number, and dollar amount of each check presented for payment against a list of previously authorized checks.
If you believe someone has stolen a check, the first step to take is contacting your bank to begin blocking unauthorized debits from your account. The bank can often place a temporary hold on the check and alert you to any additional attempts to deposit checks from the account. You may also file a police report and potentially be reimbursed for the fraudulently issued check. This process may take several months, however, so patience and following up with your bank is crucial. Banks will often require you to change your account number or close and open a new account, which means you’ll need to order new checks and debit cards.
Another critical step is to monitor your identity regularly. Thieves can use your stolen check to steal your personal information. If a thief gets hold of one of your checks or your entire checkbook, they have access to several pieces of highly personal information, including your name, address, account, and routing numbers. This sensitive information can then be used in a host of crimes, including identity theft, counterfeiting checks, and even attempting to hijack your bank account.
Signing up for free credit reports from companies like Experian or Credit Karma can keep you up to date with your credit score and potentially save you from experiencing a full-blown financial disaster.
As digital payment systems become more secure, criminals may turn to older, more vulnerable systems, such as paper checks. This highlights the importance of remaining on top of all aspects of our financial lives. Remaining aware of potential dangers while keeping your finances secure is a top priority, and simple steps can help prevent fraud. Consider the solutions outlined above to protect yourself and your family from check fraud.
