Police in north Chicago suburb issue warning about check-washing schemes
WINNETKA, Ill. (CBS) -- So-called check-washing schemes are getting to be such a problem in north suburban Winnetka that police are warning people not to put any checks in the mail.
Winnetka police said they have received numerous complaints over the last several months from people who reported having their checks altered, having their money stolen, or becoming the victims of identity theft. All this is believed to be related to payments stolen from the U.S. Mail, police said.
Police cannot confirm specifically that the mail in question was stolen from Winnetka – noting that such crimes are occurring across the country. But police in Winnetka did say in May of last year, a mailbox there was damaged and entered – and it is believed the contents were taken by the thieves.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said it is working on a number of cases out of Winnetka, but declined to share the number of cases under investigation – or any other details.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided this bullet-point list of mail theft prevention advice:
- Do not let incoming or outgoing mail sit and accumulate in your mailbox.
- Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery, especially if you're expecting checks, credit cards, or other negotiable items.
- If you do not receive a check or other valuable mail, contact the issuing party as soon as possible.
- Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery to have a better idea of what mail you can expect delivered to you each day.
- Monitor your financial accounts and credit profiles for any fraudulent activity, even if you are not a victim of mail theft. Early detection is so important! In that vein, consider credit freezes with the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax).
The agency also emphasized that the mail is one of the most secure ways to send something. But anyone who is the victim of mail theft should immediately file a report with local police – and with the postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.