'Check Washing' Fraud Warning Issued In Point Pleasant

POINT PLEASANT, NJ — If you mail personal checks to pay your bills, take a close look at your bank account: Point Pleasant police have received several reports of check-washing fraud.

The police department posted a warning to Facebook on Wednesday, urging residents to take a close look at their accounts.

"The Point Pleasant Police Department has received reports from residents/businesses regarding checks that they had sent in the mail but did not make it to the intended destination," the warning said. "It was discovered that the checks were intercepted along their route, possibly through illegal entry into mailboxes. The checks were then altered and made payable to other parties."

"Please routinely check your accounts to ensure checks were cleared through the intended establishments," the warning said. "Contact the Point Pleasant Police Department at 732-892-0060 if you believe that you are a victim of fraud."

Check washing is a process where thieves use chemicals to remove the ink that's written on the check and when the check is dry, a new payee is written in. Point Pleasant Police shared this graphic explaining it further: