Tega Cay, SC (Tega Cay Sun) – The U.S. Postal Service has raised a fresh alarm concerning the risks associated with sending checks through the mail. Last year, Americans wrote a staggering 3.4 billion checks, with many of them being dispatched via mail. However, in recent times, there has been a disconcerting surge in check theft incidents.
Identifying the culprits behind these thefts remains uncertain, but possibilities include workers at postal distribution centers who recognize checks in envelopes, as well as thieves who target mailboxes. To address this growing concern, some areas have taken measures to implement highly-secured mailboxes with restricted openings, encouraging customers to conduct their transactions at the post office in person.
Locally, Postal employee Jakia McMorris of Charlotte was indicted on July 24, 2023 for stealing more than $40,000 in checks from the mail. It is believed McMorris and her co-conspirators used USPS universal keys to open mailboxes in Charlotte and steal mail containing checks.
The repercussions of check theft can be severe, as sophisticated scammers possess the ability to manipulate the information on the checks, altering the payee’s name and even the amount, potentially leading to significant financial losses for the victims.
Professor David Maimon directs the Evidence-based Cybersecurity Research Group at Georgia State University and monitors mail theft rings on the Dark Web and Internet, among other cybercrimes. Below are two photos that mail thieves posted online of their stolen mail in search of checks and discovered by Maimon.
In light of these risks, the post office strongly advises against using mailboxes for sending checks and instead recommends delivering the envelopes directly to the post office. It is also advised to make payment online whenever possible. To minimize potential fraud impacts, it is advisable, whenever possible, to opt for credit cards over debit cards when making online payments.
