Urgent Warning: Stop Sending Checks in the Mail in Minnesota

My dad totally still sends me a check in the mail for my birthday every single year. I give him crap about it every time, because I think checks are a thing of the past with modern digital options like Apple Pay, Venmo, and more.

But, there are definitely still people out there sending checks in the mail and I'm here to tell you to stop that immediately. 

The surge in theft incidents targeting both mailboxes and letter carriers on their routes is alarming.

In fact, the United States Postal Service and United States Postal Inspection Service teamed up for an initiative called “Project Safe Delivery” last year to crack down on said thefts.

Unfortunately, even with the initiative in place, there was a 30% increase in theft in 2023, according to the Associated Press.

Also See: America's Worst Peanut Butter Brand is Sold in Minnesota.

These thieves might steal the mail carriers are carrying or try to take their "arrow key" used for unlocking secure mailboxes. Their main goal? Snatching checks.

What are the thieves doing with the checks?

According to CBS, they are using a technique called "check washing" to scam you out of your money.

Using chemicals, they can erase your writing on the check, such as the name of the recipient and the amount of the check. Once the payment is blank, they can fill in new information, including the amount.

What do you do if you MUST send a check? 

The Better Business Bureau sign put out a message saying if you have to send a check, ONLY use a black gel ink that is "indelible," or long-lasting.

The USPS advises Americans to avoid depositing mail in blue collection boxes or leaving it in their own mailboxes for a carrier to pick up. Instead, the agency is now recommending that patrons come inside their local post office to securely send mail.

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