Stop Sending Checks By Mail Immediately in Michigan

We live in a world where it seems most people have opted to transfer money digitally and have stopped using checks altogether. However, it only seems that way as many Americans still fear transferring money on some sort of digital platform.

Many people avoid sending money through platforms like PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and others due to fears of being scammed. It's understandable, given that we constantly hear about people falling victim to online scams in various forms.

What many don't realize is that many scams still take place outside of the digital world.

If you're still a bit old school and prefer writing checks, you may want to think twice about sending checks in the mail whether it's for bills, a gift, or whatever. What you need to understand is that while you're old school, many scammers are too.

See Also: Michigan Residents Beware: Brushing Scams are on the Rise

Warning: Check Washing is a Real Scam

According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, scammers will steal signed checks from the mail and use chemicals to wipe out the dollar amount, increasing it to a larger figure. They’ll then wash away the recipient’s name on the check and make it payable to a fake identity before cashing it.

The only way to avoid something like this happening to you is by refraining from sending checks through the mail. If you do plan on sending a check, avoid leaving it in your mailbox overnight or simply dropping it into blue mailboxes during pickup hours.

Scammers often target mailboxes directly, and there have been instances of them attacking postal workers to steal the mail they're handling.