Check Fraud on the Rise: Americans Urged to Take Precautions

Check fraud is on the rise in the US, with banks reporting 680,000 cases of check fraud in 2021, up from 350,000 in 2020. The US Postal Inspection Service also reported over 300,000 complaints of mail theft in 2021. Small businesses and individuals are being advised to take additional safety measures or avoid sending checks through the mail altogether. Banks are increasingly watching for signs of fraud and training employees to take steps to prevent it, but criminals are becoming more sophisticated and aggressive. Experts recommend avoiding sending checks in the mail or using secure mail drops, and opting in to a bank's "positive pay" services with a business checking account.