I haven’t mailed a check in a very long time. I pay by electronic funds transfer (especially taxes via the IRS direct pay) or by using “Bill Pay” at my banks where they print out and mail a check.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/your-money/paper-checks-mail-fraud.html
Don’t Send Checks Through the Mail. Just Don’t.
If you must, keep an eye on your account statements, experts say. Thieves steal checks from mailboxes, then alter the checks with fraudulent names.
By Ann Carrns, The New York Times, June 26, 2026
…
In some cases, thieves may pilfer one or more checks from local mailboxes. Adam Rust, director of financial services for the Consumer Federation of America, said thieves sometimes “fish” for checks at free-standing drop boxes, using long tools with sticky pads on the ends to grab letters. In other cases, more sophisticated criminals may steal large batches of checks, copy them and then sell them on the internet.
Often, the purloined checks are chemically altered in what’s known as “check washing” to remove the name of the recipient. The thief replaces it with a fraudulent name, and often increases the amount of the check, before cashing or depositing it…
Notify your bank as soon as possible, said Scott Anchin, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and policy at the independent bankers association.
Banks generally allow at least 30 days and sometimes up to 90 days from the time your statement is made available to you to report suspected check fraud, he said. Check your account agreement…
If you get statements online, the clock starts when the statement posts, even if you haven’t opened it yet. Review statements promptly, Mr. Anchin said, including the check images, because an altered recipient isn’t always obvious from a one-line entry on a statement. Banks typically make check images available online or by request…
Try to break the check-mailing habit. “No one should ever mail a check,” Mr. Rust said.
If you must write a check, he said, try to deliver it in person or take it inside a post office to mail rather than relying on your own mailbox or public drop boxes.
The American Bankers Association recommends using permanent “gel” ink pens when you do write checks to reduce the risk of tampering. Promptly review your bank statements — including online check images — for anything that looks suspicious. And if you don’t already, consider using your bank’s online bill payment service.
All states now offer some type of electronic payment option for paying taxes, so look into using your state’s system if you owe money at tax time…[end quote]
I bought a Sharpie gel pen in case I need to write a check. But the paper needs time to soak it in because it will smear. My artist black india ink pens (like Sakura or Pigma) are even more secure but they aren’t commonly available in stores.
Many rural and older people don’t have internet so checks will always be needed by some.
The best fail-safe if you mail a check is to verify its receipt by the original recipient. A line item showing a debit on a bank statement isn’t enough.
Wendy
