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AVOID SCAMS – Check Washing

If you’ve ever sent a check that was cashed, but later its intended recipient told you that it never arrived? If so, you might have fallen victim to check washing, a sneaky scam where fraudsters alter the payee names and amounts on checks to deceive banks and cash in. 

Did you know that postal Inspectors recover over $1 billion in counterfeit checks and money orders yearly? These scams often involve stolen mail, where checks are tampered with using chemicals to erase ink or even duplicated using high-tech copiers.  

3 WAYS U CAN PROTECT YOURSELF 

  • RETRIEVE YOUR MAIL FREQUENTLY
    Never leave your mail in your mailbox overnight. That puts you and your private mail in an unnecessarily vulnerable position.
  • DEPOSIT MAIL RESPONSIBLY
    Deposit any outgoing mail before the last pickup indicated on the blue box or drop it inside the post office directly for safe keeping, especially if you’re mailing a check. (But really, try to not mail a check at all. Check out options for electronic transfers.)
  • HOLD YOUR MAIL
    If you’re going on vacation, have your mail held at the Post Office or have a trusted friend or neighbor pick up your mail regularly for U. 

Watch these helpful videos from uspis.gov, the official government website for the United States Postal Inspection Service:

Source: USPIS.gov  

Disclaimer: U matter to Me (all of us) at UMe — and that’s why we do our best to deliver helpful information on our blog. Please note the following: (1) UMe Credit Union works hard to make certain that the information we post here is as accurate as humanly possible. But as you know, information can change and evolve quickly. While we try to update the blog on a regular basis, the content of some older posts may not be correct or up-to-date. (2) Some destinations on the World Wide Web that we link you to will exist on external websites. UMe Credit Union does not officially endorse any connected sites, nor do/did we compensate or get compensated by any entities to be featured in our posts (unless otherwise noted). (3) Everyone’s situation is unique and we advise you to consult with our personal bankers or your finance, tax, or legal professional for advice individualized to you!