Contact

What is Check Washing and How Do You Protect Yourself? 

Check fraud is on the rise, specifically check washing – a crime that involves stealing a legitimate check, chemically erasing the ink, and rewriting it for a higher amount or to a different payee. It’s fast, difficult to detect after the fact, and highly profitable for fraudsters. 
 
Have you recently mailed a credit card or bill payment, but the company didn't receive it? You may be victim to check washing.
 

Criminals typically...

  • Steal mail, often from mailboxes or postal collection boxes. Businesses are popular targets.
  • Use solvents (like acetone or bleach mixtures) to remove the handwritten portions of the check.
  • Rewrite the check with a new payee and amount, sometimes making the check payable to themselves or a money mule.
  • Deposit or cash it to their own account.
 

Best Practices to Prevent Check Washing

Limit mailing of checks

  • Use electronic payments when possible
  • If mailing checks is unavoidable, drop them off inside the post office, not outdoor collection boxes
 

Monitor your accounts

  • Review check images
  • If paying a bill (e.g., utility, cable/internet, credit card), monitor to ensure the payment has gone through
  • Monitor your account balance daily
  • Set up account alerts for balances or transactions. 
 

Secure your mail

  • Use a locked mailbox
  • Promptly retrieve your mail from the mailbox
 

Use checks with security features

This makes alterations more difficult. Use checks with:
  • Watermarks
  • Security screens
  • Chemical wash detection features
  • Microprint signature lines
 

Use fraud-proof pens

It's recommended to use a pen with blue or black non-erasable gel ink. Gel ink soaks into paper and is more difficult to remove than ink from a ballpoint pen. Some easy-to-find options include:
  • Uniball 207 Gel Pen
  • Pilot G-2 0.38
  • Sharpie S-Gel 

If you suspect a stolen or altered check, report it immediately.

 

Timely reporting is key to fraud recovery. Early detection increases the chance your bank can reverse fraudulent activity.




Check washing is a growing threat, but simple steps can significantly reduce your risk. By modernizing payment methods (ACH/electronic payments), securing mail, and staying alert to account activity, individuals and businesses can protect themselves.