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There is a good chance you are using your cards, mobile wallet, or another digital platform for most of your business these days. While digital banking has made transactions faster and easier, scammers use every available tool to take what isn’t theirs. Consequently, they may also try to steal from others in ways that could seem old-fashioned in a digital-first world.

Mail theft is the practice of stealing items from a mailbox, often to obtain sensitive information or payment details. Thieves can steal mail to discover financial information, checks, and other documents.

Why is mail theft still a common threat? Criminals often use stolen mail to:

• Take sensitive information
• Alter payments
• Counterfeit checks
• Conduct identity theft
• Steal from financial accounts

By understanding how mail theft and check fraud work, you can protect your finances and recognize suspicious activity before it becomes a problem. Let’s discuss mail theft and what you can do to protect yourself.

Why Mail Theft Is a Major Fraud Risk

Stolen letters and missing packages can be an annoyance. However, criminals target mailboxes because your mail can also contain:

• Personal checks
• Bank statements
• Credit card offers
• Tax documents

All the documents listed above contain information that thieves can use to commit fraud.

Outgoing mail is a tempting target. Imagine you are sending a check to pay the electric bill. Thieves could target your mailbox before the postal service arrives and use the contents to commit fraudulent transactions. They could alter the check and reroute the money to one of their accounts.

Another factor to consider about mail theft is that the fraudulent activity could occur, and the victim would never know until days or weeks have passed. Since physical mail takes longer to deliver, this gives thieves time to exploit stolen information.

Check Fraud and Check Washing: What You Need To Know

Paper checks contain several pieces of sensitive information, such as:

• Your name and address
• Your financial institution’s routing number
• Your account number
• Your signature

All this information can be used to commit a fraudulent transaction if it falls into the wrong hands.

For instance, thieves can make copies of a stolen check and attempt to make additional withdrawals. The data scraped from a check could also be sold online or used to commit identity theft.

Fraudsters could also alter the payee or dollar amount on a legitimate check before cashing it. This tactic is commonly referred to as “check washing.”

In a check washing scam, thieves use chemicals to remove the ink from a check. Then, they rewrite portions of the check with different details. They could:

• Change the payee name
• Increase the payment amount
• Rewrite portions of the check entirely

Certain types of ink, particularly ballpoint pens, are much easier to remove with chemicals. Many fraud prevention experts recommend using gel ink pens because they are harder to remove than other types of ink.

Warning Signs of Mail Theft or Check Fraud

Mail theft and check fraud aren’t always obvious right away. Since mail takes time to deliver, signs of a fraudulent transaction may not be apparent for days or even weeks.

Watching warning signs can help you react if you suspect you have become a victim of fraud. Common signs include:

• Missing bills or expected mail
• Checks that never reach a recipient
• Unauthorized withdrawals from your account
• Payments are posted for incorrect amounts
• Duplicate checks are clearing your account
• Notifications about accounts you didn’t open

If you notice unusual banking activity or suspect that your mail has been stolen, contact your financial institution and report it immediately. Your financial institution can help you freeze transactions and take the next steps to prevent further fraud.

How To Prevent Mail Theft

A few simple habits can help reduce the likelihood of having your mail stolen.

First, avoid leaving outgoing mail in your mailbox overnight. The less time that sensitive mail is unattended, the lower the risk of theft. If you are sending a check or other document, drop it off at the post office or a designated collection box near the posted collection hours.

Alternatively, try to use digital payment options where possible. Many service providers, such as utility companies, offer online payment options, which reduces the need to send paper checks.

Also, your financial institution may offer ways to make payments digitally. Get familiar with online bill pay, mobile banking, and electronic transfers. These payment methods reduce the risk of mail theft and allow you to monitor transactions in real time.

Finally, make a habit of monitoring your accounts frequently. If you still prefer to send checks, review your statements regularly to verify they have been cashed.

Some online banking platforms also post images of a cashed check, allowing you to compare them to the carbon copy you have in your checkbook. Mobile banking apps are particularly useful, as they allow you to view your account activity in real time and set up transaction alerts on your device.

A Little Awareness of Mail Theft Makes a Big Difference

Often, it’s the things we pay little attention to that can affect us in significant and unexpected ways. While mail theft may seem a little outdated, it remains a threat in today’s financial environment.

Awareness and proactive habits can go a long way toward protecting your finances. When you adopt good mail habits, stay on top of your account activity, and use secure payment methods, you limit how thieves can access your information.

With First Florida, you have the power to protect your finances. Visit our Scam and Fraud Education page to learn more about the latest updates.