Postal Authorities Warn of Surge in Check Fraud as Criminals Target Mail

Check fraud reports to federal agencies more than doubled last year due to sophisticated criminal operations targeting the postal system.
Experts urge individuals and businesses to avoid mailing checks when possible or take extra safety precautions.
Criminals are infiltrating post offices and creating fake IDs to steal and deposit checks, slowing down the refund process for fraud victims.
Relief checks have presented a new opportunity for check fraud during the pandemic.
Though check usage has declined, the remaining checks are vulnerable to theft, contributing to hundreds of thousands of fraud cases reported last year.