Scammers are stealing checks from the mail. Here's how to protect yourself.

Check fraud doubled from 2021 to 2023 as postal inspectors recover over $1 billion in fraudulent checks annually. Here's how to protect your payments.

A California woman was threatened with fraud using her daughter's voice by artificial intelligence

California woman Deborah Del Mastro said she was having breakfast when a caller claimed to have kidnapped her daughter using a suspicious AI voice simulation. (CyberGuy Report Podcast)

You try to use your credit card to make a purchase and it says it was declined. In a panic, you call your credit card company, who informs you that they never received your last payment. "That's impossible," you exclaim, knowing you sent the payment weeks ago.

You go to check other recently paid bills to find that several other bills have not been received, including housing association fees and insurance payments. You go to your bank and find that the checks have been "laundered" - that is, taken from the post, removed from the ink, and re-mailed to other people.

This scam just happened to a member of my family, and according to the US Postal Service, these scams are on the rise, with postal inspectors recovering "more than $1 billion in fraudulent checks and money orders annually." The US Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has said that check fraud has doubled from 2021 to 2023!

6 out of 10 identity crimes now start with a new account

A member of my family thought he did everything right. He avoided online payments to avoid being exposed to online payment scams. Checks were dropped off at the local post office in a box just outside the center. But still, he ended up committing fraud (which fortunately, with the help of his bank, was not responsible for the clearly stolen funds).

So how can you protect yourself if even mail isn't secure?

Check washing uses a chemical process to remove the ink. Using a gel pen can make this process more difficult for criminals. Also, pressing too hard while writing can make it harder to erase.

However, this isn't a foolproof scheme either, as many authorities note that fraudsters are now using technology to scan checks with your signature and produce fake copies using their computers. Therefore, pens can help as a deterrent, but they are not 100% safe either.

If you can afford it, pay your bills in person. For example, pay your credit card at the relevant local branch of the company. Pay your property taxes at the city offices. Of course, it is less convenient, but much safer.

You can also consider paying online, but this opens you up to online scams, so make sure you do it securely and using best practices.

If you want to use mail, go inside the post office, don't use the mailbox

Yes, it's easier, but even government-owned boxes are targeted by fraudsters, so physically go to the post office to pick up your mail.

As a tip, protect your mail at home. Check your email regularly so scammers can't steal information from your mailbox. If you're traveling, keep your mail delivered free with the Post Office while you're away.

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Acting quickly can help ensure you recover any embezzled funds. Designate one day a week as "bill day" and make sure all your bills are paid and payments are made as expected. If your payment is taking too long to process, review it immediately. Contact your financial institution to help you with this process.

Scammers are rampant, looking for any advantage to defraud hardworking Americans. Be diligent, even when you're doing something as mundane as mailing a check.

Carol Roth is a former investment banker, entrepreneur, and author of the new book You Will Own Nothing. His previous books include The War on Small Business and the New York Times bestseller The Entrepreneur Equation.

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