The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is alerting area residents to an increase in fraudulent activity known as check washing.
In a notice released this week, the Sheriff’s Office says check washing is a form of fraud in which criminals steal legitimate checks, chemically “wash” them to remove the original ink, and then rewrite the check to themselves or another party in order to redirect funds.
Authorities say criminals often target checks left in residential mailboxes. Once stolen, the checks are altered and fraudulently deposited or cashed, leaving victims with significant financial losses.
Residents are urged to watch for red flags that may indicate a check has been tampered with. These include faded or discolored areas on the check, inconsistent handwriting, or altered watermarks.
To help prevent becoming a victim, the Sheriff’s Office recommends using fraud-resistant checks with built-in security features such as watermarks, monitoring bank accounts regularly for discrepancies, and considering electronic payments as a safer alternative when possible.
Officials also advise depositing outgoing mail in secure blue postal collection boxes rather than leaving it in residential mailboxes, and not leaving mail in your mailbox overnight. If you plan to be away from home, have your mail held at the post office or picked up by a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor.
In addition, residents are reminded not to discard credit card records or bills in household trash. Sensitive documents should be shredded or destroyed before disposal. Enrolling in online banking and closely monitoring accounts for unauthorized transactions can also help detect fraud early.
If you suspect you have been a victim of check washing, report it immediately to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and contact your local police department or sheriff’s office.