More scammers are targeting mailboxes to snatch checks and then use chemicals to lift the ink so that new amounts and recipients can be written in.... [Here are] ways to improve the security of your payments.
Limit the number of checks you write.
The simplest way to protect yourself is to keep the number of checks you write to a minimum.... At the very least, try to send checks only to people you know.Watch for unusual transactions.
Keeping an eye on your bank account isn’t just good for budgeting, it can also help you spot any suspicious activity as soon as possible....Use pens with gel ink.
Fraud specialists recommend opting for blue or black gel-ink pens.... Thanks to its chemical composition, gel ink, which is a little thicker than that used in a regular ballpoint pen, is permanent and harder to remove.Send checks directly from the post office.
The worst thing to do is to leave the check you have written in the mailbox in front of your house with the red flag up.... [Also be] wary of simply dropping a check into a blue USPS box, as swindlers have been attacking mail carriers and stealing their keys to get into big blue drop boxes.
– From a 5/24/23 Wall Street Journal report at bit.ly/3IHwZp2.
