The best protection against check washing schemes? Stop using checks | Gene Marks

Practice where thieves break into mailboxes and alter checks is rising and hurting hurting small businesses across the country

Ever had your checks washed? Maybe not. But be careful: it's a growing problem for small businesses.

Check washing" is a practice where thieves break into mailboxes (or otherwise steal mail), find envelopes with checks, then use special solvents to remove the information on that check (except for the signature) and then change the payee and the amount to a bank account under their control so that it could be deposited at out-state-banks and oftentimes by a mobile phone.