News Brief | Why mailing a paper check has become so risky

• Get your mail as soon as you can. Definitely don’t let it sit in your mailbox overnight. And avoid leaving outgoing mail in unattended home mailboxes with the red flag up.
• Use the Postal Service hold mail service if you are heading out of town.
• Buy security envelopes so thieves can’t see there’s a check inside.
• Go inside the post office to drop off outgoing mail. If you absolutely must use an outdoor blue box, don’t deposit a check after the day’s final pickup time.

• Write checks with permanent, indelible black gel ink. Standard ballpoint pen ink washes off easily; gel ink traps itself in the paper fibers.
• Don’t leave blank gaps on the payee or dollar amount lines where a thief can sneak in extra words or numbers.
• Don’t just check your bank balance online. Look at the actual digital image of your cleared checks to confirm the payee’s name wasn’t altered.
• Check your online banking activity frequently. Verify everything about it.
• If a check you wrote is taking longer than usual to clear, or if you spot any missing funds, contact your bank immediately.
• Order checks that have security features, such as microprinting, watermarks or chemically reactive paper that bleeds when touched by bleach or acetone.

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