Community Chat

[Tinkrbl44]

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@On It wrote:

I have seen two postings this morning cautioning individuals about mailing checks. There has been a sharp uptick in the number of checks being stolen from the USPS. The last story was from the CBS local affiliate.

Last week I saw a photo of a check for something like $28 that had been stolen and altered to $4000. It certainly gives pause concerning this heightened risk.

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@On It 

Two things come to mind ....

First of all, you can pay almost everything online these days, and it's trackable ... so why aren't people doing that more?

Secondly, the last time I made a mistake on a check and tried to correct it, what a mess it was, there was no way anyone would cash it.  HOW are thieves able to alter checks that anyone in their right mind would actually cash?  

[On It]

@Tinkrbl44 Honest people apparently do not have this skill set. This is organized crime using a process called check washing. They know how to clean the paper and effectively change the amounts without detection.

I heard more about the story late yesterday. It does not seem to be the random hoodlum stealing from neighborhood boxes.

[colliemom4]

I know several people this has happened to within the last past year.

[CelticCrafter]

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@Jo1313 wrote:

We have had checks and gift card that have gone missing from time to time.

On the other hand they got "kudos" from me  last week..My son mailed me my grandson's "baseball cards" from his little league..

We thought they were "lost in the mail"

We got all of them in a PO envelope stating "damaged in delivery process".It was my son's fault for mot putting them in a padded envelope. They included the messed up envelope that was crumpled like it was caught in the sorting machine.

This is a small town so I go to the PO to mail my stuff.Never use the few blue boxes arounfd here.

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I've had gift cards go missing a few times.  They can be felt through the envelopes.

Now if I absolutely have to mail them I will put them in a very padded envelope.

[JoyFilled Warrior]

Does "check washing" remove the design of the check, found under the amounts we write on the check? 

  Or does check washing only remove our ink?

If so, would check washing remove Perm Sharpie Marker ink?

[On It]

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@JoyFilled Warrior wrote:

Does "check washing" remove the design of the check, found under the amounts we write on the check? 

  Or does check washing only remove our ink?

If so, would check washing remove Perm Sharpie Marker ink?

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I do not know the answer to your questions, but the gel pen that claims to be fraud proof is shown earlier toward the beginning of this thread.

[candyagain]

When we moved into my current home it was a rural route. We had to get a PO Box at the local small Post Office. My ex was self employed and received some payments in the mail.

A few years in we were offered at home delivery. after that one day we watched our neighorhood children "play postman" taking mail out of the new boxes on or street and redeliver the mail willy nilly to other boxes.

That day my ex and i decided to keep the PO Box and i've never regretted it

[JoyFilled Warrior]

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@On It wrote:

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@JoyFilled Warrior wrote:

Does "check washing" remove the design of the check, found under the amounts we write on the check? 

  Or does check washing only remove our ink?

If so, would check washing remove Perm Sharpie Marker ink?

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I do not know the answer to your questions, but the gel pen that claims to be fraud proof is shown earlier toward the beginning of this thread.

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Hi @On It 

Thanks!

     I saw it earlier, & looked up that Special Pen.  I couldnt find where it's sold as a Single.  Only a box of 12. 

     I write maybe 1 check a month.  A Box of 12 would last me perhaps 15-20 yrs  heh.

     I already called friends & family to see if they'd like some of these Special pens too.  They said.."nope!" heh  "We pay electronically, &   We're all wayy overly supplied with pens & perm markers any way."

   Then, "y'mean you dont pay electronically???"  ugh! 

[Roni18]

@JoyFilled Warrior  I haven't looked in awhile because I bought a box of pens at Sam's but you used to be able to find them in sets of 2 at Walmart and Target.  They were just with all the other pens.

[lgfan]

This is a bit off track but I remember many years ago a postman opening a mailbox on a sidewalk and seeing her shaking the mail because it was wet. Someone poured a drink into the mailbox. At least I think it was a drink.