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What to do if your check was stolen from the mail

Yahoo Personal Finance · Getty Images
Sarah C. Brady · Contributor
6 min read

Mail theft has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic. This crime happens in an instant, but when it involves a stolen check, the damage can be long-lasting.

If your check is stolen from the mail, you'll need to act fast to prevent financial losses and identity theft. If you're lucky, you can request a stop payment and close your bank account before the check is used by the thief. But you'll need to take a few additional steps to prevent further damage.

How are checks stolen from the mail?

A check that's sitting in a mailbox can be an easy target for a criminal. Thieves steal checks from the mail using various tactics, some simple and some elaborate. They include:

  • Sifting through unlocked mailboxes or picking mailbox locks

  • Breaking into or stealing USPS collection boxes, which are notoriously unsecure

  • Attacking postal workers to steal their universal "arrow" keys, which can potentially open every USPS mailbox lock in a given ZIP code

  • Buying stolen or copied arrow keys from postal workers or bribing them for the keys

In 2024, robberies that targeted mail carriers for their arrow keys, which open mail collection boxes, panel mailboxes in apartments, and cluster boxes in subdivisions, saw a 73% year-over-year increase. These keys are hot commodities for thieves since they can be sold on the black market for as much as $7,000.

What do thieves do with stolen checks?

In the wrong hands, a check can be used to steal large sums of money. This form of theft, also known as "mail theft-related check fraud," is likely the first in a string of malicious acts the thief intends to commit, including:

  • Check washing: Washing a check with nail polish remover or other chemicals to remove the ink, then changing the payee's name and the dollar amount.

  • Counterfeiting: Printing counterfeit checks with the original account and routing number, or selling images of the counterfeits online.

  • Identity theft: Stealing the name, address, and bank information on the check to apply for credit cards, create fake IDs, or commit other acts of identity theft.

A best-case scenario is that the thief simply attempts to use one check, but is unsuccessful. This could happen if a properly trained bank or retail employee notices the alterations or a mismatched ID.

What to do if you’re the check writer

When you write a check, you need to ensure it's received and deposited by the intended payee. If it's intercepted, take these steps right away:

  1. Contact your bank: For a check that hasn't been cashed yet, place a stop-payment order with your bank. If it has been cashed, inform the bank of the theft and ask to have the money restored. You may need to fill out an affidavit.

  2. Close the account: Work with the bank to move your money to a new checking account with a new account number. Change your online banking login credentials and debit card PIN, and update your automatic payments.

  3. File a postal report: Contact your local U.S. Postal Inspector online or at 877-876-2455 to file a report.

  4. Contact check verifiers: Contact both of these check verification companies and inform them not to accept checks with your closed bank account information:

  • TeleCheck 1-800-710-9898

  • Certegy, Inc. 1-800-437-5120

  1. File a police report: File a report that includes details of the stolen check, and save a copy in case it's needed as proof of the crime.

  2. Search for bad checks: Call SCAN at 1-800-262-7771 to find out if any bad checks have been used in your name. Follow up with banks or vendors who accepted the checks.

  3. Protect your credit profile: Place a fraud alert with one of the three national credit bureaus to prevent the thief from applying for credit cards or loans in your name (when you place an alert with one bureau, it must notify the others):

  1. Protect your banking profile: Contact ChexSystems and file a Security Freeze. This will stop criminals from opening bank accounts in your name and ensure the fraudulent checks don't impact your banking report.

  2. Secure your mailbox: Consider placing your mail on hold if you need to replace your mailbox or mailbox lock.

Can you get your money back if a check is stolen in the mail?

Whether or not you get your money back after having a check stolen depends on the circumstances. Some banks will refund the money if you report a qualifying incident within 30 days, while others give you just two weeks. You're not likely to be reimbursed if you signed a blank check.

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What to do if you’re the check recipient

If a check was sent to you via USPS more than five days ago, there's a chance it was lost or stolen. As with sending a check, it's important to act quickly when you suspect a check that was mailed to you was stolen. Here's what you should do:

  1. Inform the sender. Contact the sender to inform them of the issue. Ask if they have tracking for the check or if they can see a fraudulent deposit in their bank account transactions.

  2. Ask for a new payment. Ask the sender to cancel the original check and send you another payment (ideally, using a method other than writing a check).

  3. Report the theft: File a report with your U.S. Postal Inspector, either online or at 877-876-2455. File an additional report with your local police.

How to avoid mail check fraud

Sending and receiving checks by mail is not exceptionally safe, so it requires particular caution. You can't entirely prevent thieves from stealing your mail or your mail key, but you can take these steps to deter theft:

  • Switch payment methods: Stop using checks where possible and opt for direct deposits and electronic payment methods instead.

  • Use better checks: If you must use checks, pay for checks with security features such as watermarks and security threads.

  • Protect outbound mail: Don't leave outbound checks in a mailbox or a USPS collection box overnight. Instead, send them from the post office.

  • Make vacation plans: Have your mail held at the post office or picked up by a family member when you go on vacation.

  • Monitor regularly: Check your mailbox daily and your bank account activity weekly.

  • Use mail alerts: Sign up for the USPS's Informed Delivery to get delivery alerts and tracking information.

Use bank security features: Set up alerts for your banking activity, especially individual transaction amounts over a certain threshold.