‘Check Washing’ Costs Americans Over $1 Billion Each Year, Says USPIS — How To Spot It And Protect Your Money

‘Check Washing’ Costs Americans Over $1 Billion Each Year, Says USPIS — How To Spot It And Protect Your Money

Jessica Wong  Sat, August 30, 2025  Moneywise

Despite seeming retro, check fraud is experiencing a surprising resurgence, with criminals stealing billions of dollars through these schemes.

According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), "check washing" fraud is inflicting substantial financial damage on Americans. Postal inspectors report intercepting more than $1 billion in fraudulent checks and money orders annually.

Despite the rise of digital financial transactions, thieves are increasingly targeting mail containing paper checks as a vulnerable point in the system.

Using common household supplies, scammers can modify stolen checks by removing the original information and substituting false details before depositing them under assumed identities. Below, we explain their tactics and how to protect yourself.

What is “check washing”?

Check washing is a theft method where criminals steal checks, commonly from mailboxes, and use household chemicals such as nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol to erase the ink. After removing the original information, the thief changes the payee name and amount, cashes the altered check and escapes with the stolen funds.

This scheme, which has been around for decades, has seen a significant increase in incidents since 2021, with check fraud cases nearly doubling according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. Postal inspectors warn that this troubling trend is expected to worsen throughout 2025.

Criminal organizations have been identified selling stolen checks on digital platforms and recruiting individuals known as "money mules" to deposit falsified checks into fraudulent accounts, according to NASDAQ Verafin. In a contemporary evolution of this long-established fraud scheme, these stolen checks are now being traded on dark web marketplaces in exchange for cryptocurrency.

Real-world cases show just how quickly it can happen, and victims are losing thousands.

According to ABC7 NY, when Carol Perlman mailed a $656 check, criminals altered it to $9,000. Though her bank eventually refunded the money, they only did so after local media covered her story.

In the same ABC7 NY report, Matt Schick became a victim after depositing a contractor's payment in a street mailbox. Within days, someone had intercepted and cashed it for $7,500.

Fortune magazine reported on entrepreneur Steve, who was stunned to discover that his $310,000 IRS payment never arrived. Thieves had chemically "washed" the check, replacing "IRS" with another name before depositing it. He was forced to pay his taxes again, including penalties and interest, while still fighting with his bank to recover the stolen funds.

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