TLDR
Thief steals mail from blue collection boxes or curbside boxes, uses acetone or brake fluid to wash out ink on a check, rewrites amount and payee. USPS Postal Inspection Service identified check fraud as the 1 mail related crime 2023 2024,...
How it works
Thief steals mail from blue collection boxes or curbside boxes, uses acetone or brake fluid to wash out ink on a check, rewrites amount and payee. USPS Postal Inspection Service identified check fraud as the 1 mail related crime 2023 2024,...
Red flags
- Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.
- A link or sender that does not match the official organization.
- Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What to do
- 1WHAT TO DO: never deposit checks in residential mailbox, hand to USPS clerk or deposit inside post office; use gel pens (Uniball 207) which resist solvents; sign up for Informed Delivery.
- 2IF VICTIM: file with bank for forgery affidavit (Reg CC), report to USPIS at 1 877 876 2455 + uspis.gov/report, contact payee directly to reissue.
Source
FAQ
Is Check washing — mail theft + chemical alteration of payee/amount a real scam pattern?
Yes. Treat the message, call, or payment request as suspicious until you verify it through an official channel.
What are the first warning signs?
Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.; A link or sender that does not match the official organization.; Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What should I do first?
WHAT TO DO: never deposit checks in residential mailbox, hand to USPS clerk or deposit inside post office; use gel pens (Uniball 207) which resist solvents; sign up for Informed Delivery.; IF VICTIM: file with bank for forgery affidavit (Reg CC), report to USPIS at 1 877 876 2455 + uspis.gov/report, contact payee directly to reissue.
Can LegalAudit check my case?
Yes. Start a free chat and paste the message, link, sender, or payment details for triage.