Check Fraud Is on the Rise—Here’s How to Keep Your Money Grounded

It should come as easily as fastening your seat belt on a plane, so buckle up for this one. Despite the fact that check use has declined by 25%, reports of check fraud have soared. In fact, they’ve doubled since 2021. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and finding new ways to steal your financial information to gain access to and fly off with your money. Bank Independent is committed to helping our customers use checks safely.

Don’t give criminals the runway: Understanding the tactics they use can be your first line of defense.

Criminals are known to raid mailboxes and take off with checks so they can alter them and steal your money. One way to prevent this from happening is by not leaving your mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods of time. If you’re heading out of town, you can pause your mail delivery for peace of mind. If you’re sending a check in the mail, don’t drop it in your mailbox. Instead, mail it from a USPS location.

If criminals get hold of your check, they could use what’s known as check washing. Chemicals are used to “wash” checks, erasing and rewriting details to siphon funds into their own accounts. Lastly, if a criminal gets ahold of your account and routing number, they can stow that information away and easily steal your money by creating counterfeit checks using modern printers and software.

Remember, every time you write a check, you expose your personal information, such as your name, contact information and bank account number. Make sure your payments land safely by using digital options whenever possible. But if you have to write a check, keep these tips in mind to practice check safety:

1. Use Permanent Gel Pens
   Just like wearing a seatbelt when you fly, use permanent ink when you write a check to protect yourself.

2. Avoid Blank Spaces
   Make sure you fill out every blank space on a check so criminals can't fill them in instead.

3. Withhold Personal Information
   The person in the middle seat doesn't need to know your whole life story, just like you don't need to add personal info to your checks for anyone to see.

4. Review Accounts
   Monitor your account activity online or in the Bank Independent mobile app. Regular reviews ensure you quickly notice anything out of the ordinary.

5. Check Your Checks
   Regularly review your paid checks online and in our app. Ensure the endorsement is correct and reflects the intended payee and amount to guard against fraud.

6. Follow Up
   Just as you’d confirm your flight details, make sure to follow up with payees to confirm they've received and deposited your check.

For more tips, resources and videos on how to protect yourself from check fraud, visit the American Bankers Association's resource PracticeSafeChecks.com.