Protect Yourself From Check Washing

Criminals can steal mailed paper checks, such as by fishing them from USPS mailboxes, robbing postal workers, or taking them from personal mailboxes. They alter the checks by washing off the ink, changing the amount or payee, and then depositing them to steal money from your account. If a check you sent was never received by the recipient, you might be a victim of check washing.

To enhance your security, The Victory Bank offers Cash Management (ACH) through our Online Business Banking to safeguard against such schemes. With ACH, you can eliminate the need to print checks, pay for postage, or concern yourself with risk of check theft.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

• Use pens with indelible black ink so it is more difficult to wash your checks.
• Follow up with charities and other businesses to make sure they received your check.
• Use online banking to review copies of your checks to ensure they were not altered.
• If you still receive paid checks back from the bank, shred - don't just trash them.
• Regularly review your bank activity and statements for errors.
• Don't leave blank spaces in the payee or amount lines of checks you write.

Call us at 610-948-9000 for more information.

Read about other ways to protect yourself from theft and fraud.