How the USPS is Fighting Mail Theft – and How You Can Help

An Illinois man was sentenced to 154 months in prison for participating in a mail theft and bank fraud scheme. A Virginia man was convicted on three charges of possessing and receiving stolen mail.

These are just two of hundreds of instances of mail theft crimes in recent months, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – and they’re examples of why the USPIS has launched Project Safe Delivery, an initiative to combat mail theft.

Nationwide between May 12, 2023 and September 30, 2024, 1,692 people were arrested on mail theft charges. This trend is troubling to fraud prevention experts at First International Bank & Trust, because mail theft can lead to check fraud. In some cases, fraudsters steal checks out of mailboxes and “wash them” – that is, they change the payee names and dollar amounts on checks and fraudulently deposit them.

Check fraud is an issue that continues to affect personal and business banking customers at First International Bank & Trust. Here are a few tips from the American Bankers Association on how to protect your mail:

• Get your mail promptly after delivery. Don’t leave it in your mailbox overnight.
• If you’re heading out of town, ask the post office to hold your mail until you return.
• Sign up for informed delivery at USPS.com. It sends you daily notifications of incoming mail and packages.
• Contact the sender if you don’t receive mail that you’re expecting.
• Consider buying security envelopes to conceal the contents of your mail.
• Use the letter slots inside your Post Office to send mail.

And if you must write a check and send it in the mail, consider taking these steps to protect them:

• Use pens with indelible black ink so it is more difficult for a criminal to wash your checks.
• Don’t leave blank spaces in the payee or amount lines.
• Don’t write personal details, such as your Social Security number, credit card information, driver’s license number, or phone number on checks.
• Consider using e-check, ACH automatic payments, and other electronic and/or mobile payments.
• Follow up with payees to make sure that they received your check.

Finally, if you’re a business banking customer at First International Bank & Trust, we strongly recommend utilizing Positive Pay. This service compares checks presented for payment to your issued-check files, verifying check numbers, dollar amounts, and issue dates. Read more about Positive Pay here.

The team at First International Bank & Trust is always working to keep you and your finances secure. Visit our Education Center at FIBT.com for even more tips on staying safe and avoiding fraud.