Scam Alert: Check Washing

Monthly tips from the Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade, & Consumer Protection

Have you ever sent a check that was cashed, but the recipient said it never arrived? You may be the victim of check fraud or “check washing.” Check washing scams involve changing the payee names and dollar amounts on checks and fraudulently depositing them.

This can happen when checks are stolen from mailboxes or acquired through dishonest means, and are “washed” in chemicals to remove the ink. More advanced operations no longer even “wash” checks – they create counterfeit checks based on the real one and use editing software to change the details, even the check number. The fraudulent check can then be filled out as desired and deposited by the scammer, or even sold on the ‘dark web’ to the highest bidder.

Check washing has been around for a long time, but declined in popularity as checks became less common as a payment method. However, some signs indicate it has been making a comeback in recent years. Check washing is hard to prevent after a scammer already has their hands on your check, but you can take steps to protect yourself and reduce your risk.

· Mail your outgoing checks at a Post Office.

· Retrieve your mail frequently – never leave it in your mailbox overnight.

· If you’re going on vacation, ask the Post Office to hold your mail or have a friend or neighbor pick it up for you daily.

· While this method is not foolproof against some variants of the scam, writing your checks using a gel-pen prevents ink from being washed away or off the check.

Wisconsin Consumer Protection Hotline: (800) 422-7128 or DATCPHotline@wi.gov datcp.wi.gov