Check Fraud Is On The Rise

Here’s How to Stay Ahead

Check fraud is nothing new, but it’s becoming more aggressive. Criminals are targeting small businesses by stealing, altering or forging checks to access funds that aren’t theirs. If your business writes or receives checks, here’s how to stay protected without changing how you operate.​

Common Check Fraud Tactics

• Mailbox theft: Thieves steal outgoing mail, wash checks and rewrite them to new payees or amounts.
• Check washing: Using chemicals, fraudsters erase ink to change the payee and dollar amount.
• Counterfeiting: Your business details are copied and used to create fake checks from scratch.
• Internal theft: Employees or vendors misuse blank or signed checks.​

Protecting Your Business

• Use pens with fraud-resistant ink: Regular pens are easy to wash. Use black gel ink or pens marked “fraud-resistant.”
• Set up Positive Pay: This tool flags any check that doesn’t match your approved list before it clears.
• Secure your physical checks: Lock up blank checks, never pre-sign them and limit who has access.
• Monitor your account: Check your transactions daily and set up alerts for cleared checks or large withdrawals.
• Avoid putting checks in unsecured outgoing mail: Drop them inside the post office or hand them off directly whenever possible.​

Bonus Tip

If you ever see a check cleared for an unexpected amount—or a payee that doesn’t match—call us immediately. Time matters in stopping fraud.

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The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.