“I mailed my check to the gas company two months ago to pay the $45 bill. Today, the gas company sent me a bill stating I hadn’t paid last month’s bill. So, they charged me again for last month’s bill plus this month’s bill, plus a late payment fee of $25. I just checked my bank statement, and I noticed that somehow the $45 check I had written was altered to read $4,500 and someone cashed it.”

Check washing scams like the example above are on the rise, with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service reporting a 161% increase nationwide in recent years. Criminals steal checks from mailboxes or postal facilities, erase the original details using household chemicals, and replace them with their own name and a higher amount. They then cash or deposit the counterfeit checks, leaving victims with significant financial losses.
How to Protect Yourself:
1. Go Digital: Set up automatic payments through your bank to eliminate the need for mailing checks.
2. Use Security Envelopes: Avoid using envelopes that say “payment enclosed.” Instead, opt for opaque security envelopes.
3. Write Smart: Gel pens are harder to erase, but counterfeiters are increasingly sophisticated—consider minimizing check use altogether.
4. Stay Vigilant: Check your bank statements daily for unauthorized transactions and report them immediately.
5. Secure Your Mail: Never leave outgoing mail in your outdoor mailbox.
If you suspect check fraud contact your bank immediately. Take steps to safeguard your finances and help protect yourself from becoming a victim of check washing.

Here at FCSU, we are taking steps to ensure your information is gathered safely. One way is encouraging you to use our member portal to make payments to avoid sending checks in the mail.

Create:
• Go to www.fcus.com
• Click Member Login
• Click Create Account
• Enter the required information
• Create your username & password
• Click Create User

Verify:
• Verify your phone number and click TEXT
• Enter the 4 digit code and click OK
• Congratulations! You’ve created your account.

Log In:
• Next time you want to check your account, just go to www.fcsu.com
• Click Member Login
• Enter your username/password
• Verify your phone number/Text
• View your policies