40 People Scammed By Check-Washing In Western Suffolk: Police

YAPHANK, NY — Suffolk police on Tuesday warned over 40 people — mostly in Dix Hills, Melville, and Huntington — have been victimized in a check-washing scam since August, with thieves using the United States Postal Service.

Investigators explained a resident will put a check in the mail, but then it ends up in the wrong hands, where it is modified and cashed by criminals targeting unsuspecting people using snail mail.

The thefts have taken place since Aug. 1.

As part of the check-washing scam, a check is stolen from a mailbox and then the payee and amount are changed, police said, noting that in one instance, a check for $100 was changed to $52,000.

Most of the checks are stolen from mailboxes outside of homes, though some have been stolen from U.S. Postal Service mailboxes, police said, adding that a majority of the checks have been deposited by a mobile app, but some in-person transactions have also taken place.

At a news conference, Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said "the scam mostly involves individuals removing mail," which contains incoming and outgoing checks.

Chief of Detectives John Rowan said the checks that are being washed "have been made out to various names," adding, we're not seeing a consistent name being used."

"It's a crime of opportunity," he said. "They could try to cash the check in any amount they want. If it clears, they collect the money. If it bounces, there's really no loss on the criminals."

Harrison said it's something that really has been touching everyone.

"It's not the elderly that are being victimized," he said. "This is not young adults. We have different people being victimized by these scams."

Members of the public can protect themselves by taking a few simple precautions:

• Do not mail checks in the mailbox in front of your home. Instead, mail the checks in mailboxes inside the post office.
• Use online banking to eliminate the need for checks.
• Pick up new check orders at local bank branches, rather than have them shipped.
• If you have to write a check, avoid using regular ink because it's easy to wash. Instead, use indelible black ink.