Americans urged to avoid mailing checks as check fraud cases soar.

Check fraud is on the rise, with banks reporting 680,000 cases of check fraud in 2021, up from 350,000 in 2020. The US Postal Inspection Service reported roughly 300,000 complaints of mail theft in 2021, more than double the prior year’s total. Small businesses and individuals are being advised to take additional safety measures or to avoid sending checks through the mail altogether. Banks are increasingly watching for signs of fraud at branches and through mobile check deposit services, including large check deposits.