You may worry about online hackers stealing your money, but if you still write paper checks, you also need to protect yourself from this old-school check scam that could potentially drain your entire bank account.

by Andrea Norris-McKnight

Unfortunately, scammers are stealing more than $800 million per year from consumers using a technique called check washing, which dates back to the 1980s. Here is what you need to know about check washing so you can minimize the chance of someone wiping out your bank account balance with this scheme.

What Is Check Washing?

According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, check washing is a process that involves stealing a paper check that has already been made out to someone but has not yet been cashed or deposited—like that check you just put in the mail to the water company or your grandson for his birthday.

The thief uses a chemical solution to remove the written ink from the check or prints a fake copy of the check, leaving your account number and information intact. They then list a fake identity as the payee and write in a new amount. The thief cashes the check against your account and is long gone with your money before you even realize there’s a problem.

How To Protect Your Bank Account From Check Washing Fraud

You can take some simple steps to minimize the chance of one of your checks getting swiped and washed. The most obvious protection is to use online bill pay whenever possible, rather than paper checks. But for those who prefer to write paper checks, even if just occasionally, the following steps can help minimize the chance you fall victim to check-washing fraud.

1. Only Use Black Gel Ink

According to the Better Business Bureau, black gel ink is more difficult for scammers to “wash” than dye-based inks, especially blue inks.

2. Don’t Put Checks in Your Home Mailbox

If your home mailbox is easily accessible to anyone who wants to open the door and reach in, don’t leave checks in it for your mail carrier to collect.

If you can’t hand the envelope directly to your mail carrier, drop your checks at the post office or into an official U.S. post office mailbox. Just make sure you drop your mail into the box not long before it is scheduled for collection. You don’t want those checks sitting in the box longer than necessary and never overnight. Thieves do target these boxes.

Editor’s note: Occasionally, you hear of an unscrupulous postal worker stealing checks. If you need to send an important check for a large amount, such as to the IRS for your taxes, you may want to set up a transfer from your bank rather than mailing a paper check or consider buying postal insurance.

3. Keep a Close Eye on Your Checking Account After Mailing a Check

Any time you mail a check, follow up to ensure it clears for the correct amount. Most banks offer consumer protection to individuals who have fallen victim to a check-washing scam, provided the fraud is reported promptly.

Stay Up To Date on Scams and Fraud

These days, you can fall victim to financial fraud no matter how you bank and pay bills. One of the best things you can do to protect your money is to stay abreast of current scams. A few good resources for staying on top of the latest scams are:

• Federal Trade Commission
• USA.gov
• FBI.gov

• Don’t Fall for These Dental Scams
• Don’t Buy From a Website If You Spot Any Of These 6 Red Flags
• How a Con Man Targets and Takes Advantage of the Elderly

Reviewed February 2024

About the Author

Andrea Norris-McKnight specializes in personal finance and frugal living content and has written for several other financial websites, including TheDollarStretcher.com, Money.com and GOBankingRates.com.