A Fox News opinion article published Oct. 13, 2026, warns that checks sent through the mail can be stolen and altered, a practice commonly called check washing. The author recounts a family member’s experience with multiple payments that did not reach their intended recipients and says the person’s bank helped resolve the stolen funds.
The article cites the U.S. Postal Service as saying postal inspectors recover more than $1 billion in counterfeit checks and money orders annually. It also attributes to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network a finding that check fraud doubled between 2021 and 2023. These statistics are presented by the opinion article; the supplied material does not include links or additional documentation for them.
Among the precautions suggested are writing checks with a gel pen and applying firm pressure, which the article says may make ink removal harder. It cautions that these steps are not foolproof, noting that checks may also be copied and reproduced.
The author suggests paying bills in person when practical or using online payment options carefully. For people who continue mailing checks, the article recommends taking them inside a post office rather than placing them in collection boxes. It also advises collecting household mail regularly, arranging a postal hold during travel and checking bill-payment status on a regular schedule.
The article’s central advice is to follow up promptly when a payment appears delayed or has not been credited. The recommendations are general consumer precautions, not a guarantee against fraud.
