We have reports, from local law enforcement, that individuals in the Little Rock Metro area are breaking into blue postal boxes to steal checks. There is also a group taking mail out of mailboxes across the state to steal checks, both written and blank check delivered to you.
They are stealing checks out of those boxes and washing them to make they payable to themselves. Check washing is where they use chemicals to remove the ink from the check and re-write the check payable to themselves. They will even change the dollar amount.
What you can do to protect yourself:
Do not put any mail in a blue Post Office Box. If you need to take mail to the Post Office - take it inside and hand deliver it.
Retrieve mail frequently. Don’t let your mail pile up.
Hold your mail at the Post Office if you will be out of town.
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery. It’s FREE! Receive an email, each morning, of a picture of every item that should be in your mailbox that day. It lets you know if the is something important and if it goes missing you know immediately.
Use Online Bill Pay to pay bills. Make sure to use the Zip Code +4 when setting up a new bill. This helps to ensure, if it’s available, that the payment goes electronic, instead of paper check.
If you have any questions, please contact member services at 501-375-5321 or email members@telcoe.com.