Mail Check Fraud Is on the Rise: Here’s How to Stay Protected

We’ve recently heard reports of mail check fraud increasing in our area, particularly involving mail taken from standalone USPS collection boxes. While these incidents are not unique to our community, we believe it’s important to keep our customers informed and share a few simple tips that can help protect you.

If you need to mail a check, we recommend visiting your local Post Office and dropping your mail inside the building whenever possible. Indoor collection boxes are generally more secure than standalone outdoor boxes.

If you’re unable to visit the Post Office, try to mail checks as close as possible to pick-up time. Avoid leaving checks in collection boxes overnight, over the weekend, or during holidays where mail may sit for longer periods of time. 

For checks that must be mailed, especially larger payments – you may want to consider sending them using a more secure delivery option including certified or registered mail.

Consider electronic services available to you. Our online Bill Payment service is available free of charge through our Internet/Mobile banking products. Bill pay allows you to send payment securely without needing to place a check in the mail.

We also encourage customers to regularly monitor their accounts through our Internet and Mobile Banking services. Reviewing account activity frequently can help you spot and report any unauthorized transactions. Our free Real Time Alerts are also available, free of charge! Setup notifications for when checks clear, balance thresholds are met, and much more!

For additional security information and fraud prevention tips, visit our online Security Center at mechanics.bank/security-center.

Questions? We are here to help. Give us a call at 1-888-MECHANICS (632-4264).