Greg's Corner

Washed Checks Drain Couple

By Greg Collier

A couple in Boardman, Ohio, is the latest to fall victim to a growing financial crime known as check washing, according to local police. The pair was alerted by their bank on Monday to suspicious activity involving their account, after several checks totaling nearly $33,000 had been cashed without their knowledge.

The couple reportedly believed they had written the checks for routine expenses, such as utilities and charitable donations. However, a closer look revealed a disturbing discovery. The payees and amounts had been altered, rewritten to entirely different individuals and inflated to larger sums. This manipulation is the hallmark of check washing, a type of fraud that has resurfaced in communities across the country.

Check washing involves stealing legitimate checks from the mail, then using chemicals or other methods to remove the ink. Once the original information is erased, fraudsters rewrite the checks to different recipients and often for much larger amounts. Washed checks can be deposited or cashed at various financial institutions before the account holder becomes aware of the theft.

In this case, the couple’s bank has confirmed that a significant portion of the stolen funds, just over $27,000, will be refunded to their account. However, the remaining $5,510 remains in question, with no guarantee of full reimbursement. This highlights a troubling reality for victims. Banks do not always recover or repay all stolen funds, especially if the fraud goes undetected for too long.

To avoid becoming the next victim, experts urge consumers to minimize the risk of check theft and alteration. When mailing checks, it is safer to drop them inside a post office rather than leaving them in an unsecured mailbox. Using pens with permanent ink that resists chemical removal can make it more difficult for criminals to wash checks successfully. It is also important to monitor accounts regularly for unauthorized transactions and report suspicious activity immediately.

As this latest case in Boardman shows, check washing continues to be a threat, one that can drain thousands of dollars in minutes and leave victims scrambling to recover. With banks not always able to restore the full amount lost, vigilance remains the most reliable defense.