According to the 2024 AFP® Payments Fraud and Control Survey Report, 80% of the organizations surveyed dealt with attempted or successful payment fraud in 2023. That’s a 15% jump in one year.

Even more concerning is that checks remain a prime target for criminals. In fact, 65% of respondents in the mentioned survey reported check-related fraud attempts.

If you’ve recently had a check stolen from the mail and cashed, this article outlines the exact steps to address the situation.

What To Do if a Check Is Stolen From a Mailbox

If you discover your check was stolen and cashed, take the following steps:

1. Report the theft to your bank
2. File a police report
3. Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
4. Freeze your credit
5. Follow up with your bank

Report the Theft to Your Bank

Immediately contact the bank’s customer service or visit their branch in person to inform them your check was stolen from the mail and cashed without your permission. 

Provide your bank with as much information as possible. Ideally, you should have the following details ready:

• Account number
• Check number
• Routing number
• Name on the bank account
• The exact name of the payee as written on the check
• Check amount

The bank will then take steps to investigate the situation and prevent further unauthorized transactions.

File a Police Report

Gather any evidence you can find related to your stolen check, such as bank statements, copies of the check, and any communication with your bank to file a police report.

Explain to the police that your check was stolen and cashed without your permission. Provide all the details you gathered and answer any questions they might have to help them understand the situation.

You should also ask for a copy of the police report so you can keep it for your records and use it when dealing with your bank and other institutions.

Report the Incident to the FTC

The FTC tracks identity theft and fraud, and your report helps them build a bigger picture of this crime. The organization can’t directly resolve bank fraud or unauthorized transactions, but they’ll forward your report to relevant authorities, such as law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, or credit bureaus. 

You’ll need to file two reports:

1. An identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov
2. A financial fraud report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Freeze Your Credit

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report and makes it harder for criminals to open new accounts in your name. To freeze your credit, you need to contact all three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

The quickest way to freeze credit is through your online accounts with each of the three bureaus. The second fastest way is to call the bureaus, while the slowest option is to mail a request, which takes up to three business days to fulfill after it has been received.

Find the contact information of each bureau below:

Credit Bureau	Contact Number	Mailing Address
Equifax	1-800-685-1111	Equifax Information Services LLC—P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
Experian	1-888-397-3742	Experian Security Freeze—P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion	1-888-909-8872	TransUnion LLC—P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016

Follow Up With Your Bank

Getting your money back from a stolen and cashed check can involve some back-and-forth with your bank. 

Speak with a bank representative who specializes in handling fraudulent activity. Request a copy of the fraudulent check and any details your bank has about how it was cashed, such as where this happened and how the person proved their identity.

Banks have a duty to verify identities before cashing checks. Ask the representative if proper procedures were followed in this case. If your bank tries to hold you responsible for the stolen check, explain that you’re the victim and shouldn’t be penalized.

How Do Thieves Cash Stolen Checks?

Understanding how thieves cash a stolen check can help you take steps to protect yourself. Here’s how it usually happens:

1. Thieves target outgoing mail with visible checks or intercept incoming mail to steal them
2. Once they have the check, they use special chemicals to erase the original payee and the amount written on it. This leaves a blank check with your signature, which they can rewrite for their own benefit
3. To cash the check, thieves use fake IDs that match the altered name on the check. They create or buy these fake IDs to make the check look legitimate
4. They then go to a bank or check-cashing store to cash the altered check using the fake ID

Sometimes, thieves pay others to cash the check for them. These third parties might not know the check is stolen, which makes it harder to trace the crime back to the thief.

What Can Happen if a Blank Personal Check Is Lost or Stolen?

If a thief finds a blank check, they can fill it out for any amount and try to cash it. Since there’s no pre-written amount, they could steal a significant sum from your bank account.

A blank check also has your bank account information printed on it. In the wrong hands, this information could be used to take over your current account, open new accounts, or make fraudulent purchases in your name.

Fraudulent activities negatively impact your credit score and may lead to difficulties obtaining loans or credit in the future.

How To Prevent Checks Being Stolen From Your Mail

Here are some tips to prevent checks from being stolen from your mail:

1. Never leave them in unsecured mailboxes
2. Use a certified courier service
3. Monitor your account
4. Use a high-security bank account

Never Leave Checks in Unsecured Mailboxes

The first line of defense against check theft is a secure mailbox. Unsecured mailboxes are easy targets for thieves, who can quickly open them and steal any outgoing or incoming mail, including checks. To ensure your checks are safe, use a locked mailbox to prevent unauthorized access to your received mail until you can retrieve it. 

You should also avoid leaving checks or other important mail in your mailbox overnight because thieves usually operate under the cover of darkness. Retrieve your mail as soon as possible after delivery to reduce the window of opportunity for theft. If you’re going to be away, notify the post office to hold your mail to prevent a buildup that signals your absence to potential thieves. 

Use Certified Mail or Courier Services for Check Delivery

For outgoing mail, always use official USPS blue mailboxes or drop your mail off directly at the post office since these locations are more secure. 

Certified mail provides proof of mailing and delivery. It gives you a receipt when you send the check and requires the recipient to sign for it upon delivery. This step ensures that your check reaches its intended recipient safely. 

Courier services, such as FedEx or UPS, offer similar benefits, including tracking, secure handling, and delivery confirmation. These services are more secure than standard mail because they reduce the chances of your check being lost or stolen during transit. 

Monitor Your Account

Vigilance is key when it comes to protecting your checks and bank account. Regularly review your bank statements and transaction history online to identify the following:

• Suspicious transactions
• Unfamiliar checks being cashed
• Unusual withdrawals

Set up alerts with your bank to receive notifications for all withdrawals or deposits to ensure you’re promptly informed of any unusual activity. 

If you notice any discrepancies or unauthorized transactions, report them to your bank immediately to minimize financial losses and prevent further fraud. 

Use a Highly Secure Bank Account 

Banks with secure accounts invest in advanced fraud detection technology that can identify patterns indicative of fraudulent activity, including check forgery or unauthorized withdrawals.

One example is FortKnox by Austin Capital Bank. It offers the inability to debit (ACH) the account to prevent electronic debits, which are commonly used in fraudulent activities. This ensures that even if a thief obtains your account information through a stolen check, they can’t initiate unauthorized withdrawals or cash checks electronically.

FortKnox also restricts linking external accounts for transfers to only one pre-approved account. This means even if thieves have your check information, they can’t transfer the money out without access to your pre-approved account.

Plus, you get two-factor authentication, which requires additional verification steps for sensitive actions like transferring funds. If a thief has your stolen check and account number, they’d need your phone or another verification method to access your money.