HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ — The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office are alerting residents to the rise of check-washing scams, a form of fraud affecting not only the local community but also being reported nationally.
Check washing is a fraudulent act where criminals steal checks from mailboxes, erase the ink using chemicals, and rewrite the amounts to their benefit before cashing them. According to the Federal Trade Commission, such scams contribute to an estimated annual loss of $1.8 billion due to check fraud.
Residents are urged to adopt several preventive measures to safeguard their mail and checks:
Mail Safety Tips:
- Retrieve mail promptly after delivery to avoid overnight risks.
- Have the post office hold your mail if you plan to be out of town.
- Use security envelopes that conceal mail contents.
- Always drop off outgoing mail at post office facilities.
- Be vigilant about expected mail and follow up with senders if items do not arrive.
- Watch for non-postal vehicles that might be scouting mailboxes.
- Report any suspicious activities near mailboxes to local police.
Check Safety Tips:
- Transition to online or mobile banking and consider electronic payment options like e-checks or ACH payments.
- If available, inspect images of processed checks provided by your bank to verify endorsement details.
- Avoid leaving blank spaces on checks and use indelible ink to prevent alterations.
- Refrain from including sensitive personal information like Social Security or driver’s license numbers on checks.
- Regularly review bank statements and account activities for discrepancies.
If you suspect that your checks have been altered or stolen, immediately report the issue to your bank, local police, and the United States Postal Inspection Service via their website or by calling 1-877-876-2455.
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