Recent reports have identified a check-washing scheme impacting customers who mailed credit card payments to Carol Stream, IL. Over the past several months, some customers reported missing payments, yet their checks had cleared their bank accounts.

Upon further investigation, those checks were found to have been altered (“washed”) and fraudulently negotiated at financial institutions across the United States.

The common factor? The original checks were mailed to Carol Stream, IL. An internal investigation is underway, and federal authorities have been notified. It is suspected that a postal employee may be involved.

If you recently mailed a credit card payment to Carol Stream, IL, please contact us immediately so we can assist you.

What Is Check Fraud?

Check fraud occurs when criminals misuse checks or check information to access funds that do not belong to them. Unfortunately, these schemes have become more sophisticated and more common.

Here are some of the most frequent types:

Mail Theft
Checks are stolen before reaching their intended destination. Incidents involving payments mailed to Carol Stream, IL have increased in recent months.

Check Washing
Criminals use chemical solutions to remove the original ink on a legitimate check. They then rewrite the check with altered payee and dollar amounts before cashing or depositing it.

Counterfeit Checks
Fraudsters create fake checks using stolen accounts and routing numbers.

Overpayment Scams
Fraudulent checks are sent to individuals who are then pressured into sending money back before the check is discovered to be fake.

How to Protect Your Accounts

While fraud schemes are evolving, there are proactive steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Use automatic payments or online bill pay instead of mailing checks whenever possible.
• Write checks using permanent black or gel ink and fill out all fields completely.
• Avoid including sensitive information like your Social Security Number or Driver’s License number on checks.
• Review your account activity regularly through online banking or your mobile app.
• Set up account alerts to notify you when a check clears.
• Contact us immediately if you notice a transaction that doesn’t look right. Early reporting makes a significant difference in resolving fraud quickly.

How to Protect Your Mail

Mail theft plays a major role in many check fraud cases. Here’s how to reduce your risk:

• Promptly retrieve mail from your mailbox, especially in high-traffic areas.
• If a mailed payment is overdue, inquire quickly and consider placing a stop payment.
• Only place outgoing mail in your mailbox shortly before pickup.
• Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, a free service that provides preview images of incoming mail and package tracking updates.
• When mailing large payments, consider requesting Signature Confirmation.
• If you move, promptly file a change of address with USPS and notify your bank.

Fraud prevention is a shared responsibility. By understanding how these schemes work and taking a few preventative measures, we can work together to keep your accounts secure. 

If you have questions, concerns, or believe you may have been affected, especially if you mailed a payment to Carol Stream, IL, please contact us right away.