Community Chat

[deb5555]

They now sell uniball 207 security pens, they work great!

[JoyFilled Warrior]

Hi @On It 

Thank you for this caution.

Usually I go inside and mail those few bills I happen to pay by check.

1)  I always proceed a written "$" in that block that I write the numerical symbols of the check amt,    and

2)  I use the whole line where the amt is written out, long hand, so there's no more room left to add a word.

And I often go inside the P.O to mail the check in the slot.

BUT!!!

I have become more LAZY, and put bill payment envelopes in my Mail Box, or on 2 occasions recently, used the outdoor Blue Post Ofc Box.

   Even tho I follow it up with looking at my CheckingAcct online to see if they were cashed.

     BUT, my lazier actions certainly set me up for a Pain In The A** opportunity for someone to steal these!  then later I have to deal with correcting it.

After your warning.  NEVER AGAIN!

THANKS for this warning & info, @On It !!

I needed this reminder!

[NYCLatinaMe]

All the banks are talking about this now.  Check washing they call it.  I think the banks are promoting this to stop us from using check.  They save $ not having to process those.  They prefer electronic transfers.  But with electronic transfers, the customer often takes responsibility for the loss of funds and may not even notice it, while with checks, the bank is responsible.

There is much more electronic financial fraud than check washing.  Let the banks take care for the security of our money.

[Love to Run]

I haven't written a check in years. Even my mom uses Venmo, Cashapp, or Zelle.

[scruffsmom]

Mail carriers have been shot snd robbed in my city.  Apparently the crooks want the key that opens stand alone mailboxes so they can steal the mail and probably wash checks.

I very rarely send checks, but i will invest in those pens for when I do.  

[chrystaltree]

They've been warning people about the risks of mailing checks for years.  It's why we see the assaults on mail carriers.  Thieves want their keys so they can open mail boxes and search for checks.  With today's technology it's easy to "clean" the check and then make it out to whoever they choose for whatever amount they choose.  I never use checks.  There's no reason now because I can pay all my bills through their portals or secure websites.  When I give money as gifts, I give American Express gift cards or I use Venmo.  

[Sooner]

Maybe time to arm mail carriers with at least tasers and stop some of this nonsense.  

[chrystaltree]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

Around here in my neighborhood there are kids who think it's funny to take mail out of peoples' mailboxes and let it scatter in the wind. 

OMG.....    Years ago, a bunch of kids in our old neighborhood thought that was "fun".   It was their summer activity.  They also opened gates and let people's dogs  out.  

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[JoyFilled Warrior]

Jeppers!  "Check Washing??"

So difficult to keep track of the creative ways thieves cheat us everyday ppl of our hard earned, responsible spending of our money!

Boggles my mind!

[NYCLatinaMe]

@Love to Run  Banks are not responsible for money transferred through Venmo or Zelle.  I don't know Cashapp.  I do not use Bank Aps because of this.

A lot has been written about this.  Some headlines:

Fraud Is Flourishing on Zelle. The Banks Say It's Not Their Fault ...

The New York Times  2022/03/06

Easy to Use, Mobile Payment Apps Are Also Easy to Misuse 

The New York Times

Jan 28, 2023 — Services like Venmo and Zelle let people pay others or receive payments almost instantly, with a few taps on their phone.

Few Customers Get Refunds for 'Rampant' Zelle Fraud, ...

The New York Times

Oct 3, 2022 — Reports of scams and fraud on the bank-owned payment network Zelle are surging, but banks have refused to refund customers for most of their ...