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Check washing is check fraud in which a criminal steals a genuine paper check and removes or alters its ink to change the payee, the amount, or both. A check that was cashed even though its intended recipient says it never arrived warrants prompt follow-up with your bank and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
How check washing works
A criminal first gets hold of a real check, often by taking it from outgoing or delivered mail. The criminal then uses chemicals to remove or alter the ink and writes in a different payee name and, often, a larger amount. The changed check may be deposited before the person who wrote it notices anything unusual.
Not every altered-check case involves washing the original paper. USPIS also warns that criminals may use copiers or scanners to produce fake check copies. These are related forms of check fraud, but they do not use the same physical process as chemically altering an original check. See USPIS guidance on check washing.
USPIS says Postal Inspectors recover more than $1 billion in counterfeit checks and money orders every year, according to its page last updated July 29, 2025. That figure covers recovered counterfeit checks and money orders; it is not an estimate of check-washing losses alone.
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- If the ink is dry before the office stamp you just received is used, please contact us directly and we will be happy to solve the problem for you.
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How to spot an altered or missing check
Compare the paid check with what you wrote
Use your bank’s online or mobile banking account to review transactions and, where available, the image of each paid check. Compare the payee and amount with your records. If the bank provides both sides of the check, inspect the endorsement on the back for anything that looks inconsistent. Check images and transaction activity can help identify a problem, but they may not be available for every payment.
Follow up when delivery is uncertain
If the intended recipient says a mailed check never arrived, or a check remains outstanding longer than expected, contact the recipient and check your account activity. A missing check is not proof of washing, but a check that clears despite non-delivery is a reason to investigate promptly.
Rank #2
- Clear & Bold “Void” Impressions: Precision HD engraving ensures crisp, highly visible “VOID” marks every time, making it easy to prevent unauthorized use of invoices, checks, receipts, and other important documents.
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- For Office & Business Needs: Ideal for accountants, finance departments, small business owners, and administrative staff. Use it on invoices, checks, receipts, contracts, and other sensitive paperwork to prevent mistakes and unauthorized use.
How to reduce the risk
Make mailed checks harder to steal or alter
- Put outgoing checks in a Post Office collection slot or hand them to a letter carrier. If you use a blue collection box, USPIS advises depositing mail before the last pickup.
- Retrieve incoming mail promptly rather than leaving it in the mailbox overnight. When traveling, arrange a USPS mail hold or ask someone you trust to collect it.
- Write checks in indelible black ink. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) specifically names black permanent marker or black gel ink as harder for fraudsters to remove. This reduces risk; it does not make a check impossible to alter.
- Fill in the payee and amount lines fully, leaving no blank spaces that could be used to add information. Avoid writing sensitive personal details on checks.
- A security envelope can conceal the contents of mail, according to USPIS and the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation. The guidance describes a privacy benefit, not protection against mail theft or washing.
Use monitoring and consider other payment methods
- Review account activity and paid-check images regularly; verify the payee, amount, and available endorsement, and confirm receipt with the payee when needed.
- When suitable, consider an electronic payment such as an e-check, ACH payment, or mobile payment to avoid mailing a paper check. Electronic methods are not guaranteed to be risk-free.
For consumer steps, see the ABA Foundation’s check-fraud guidance.
What to do if a check is missing or altered
- Contact your bank or credit union promptly. Explain that a check may have been stolen or altered, ask how to dispute the transaction, and request copies of the fraudulent check or checks.
- Report suspected mail-related crime. File a report with USPIS or call 1-877-876-2455, and report the incident to local police.
- Review account activity and check images. Compare the paid check with what you issued, including its endorsement if your bank supplies an image of the back.
- If a signed check was lost with no payee filled in, ask your bank about stopping payment. The CFPB says state law generally provides that a writer is not responsible when the intended payee’s signature is forged. It also cautions that protections generally do not apply when the writer signed a blank check and someone fills in their own name. The result depends on the facts and applicable law; consult the CFPB’s guidance on a stolen and cashed check and ask your financial institution about your situation.
Additional controls for small businesses
With more checks and transactions to review, a business may find altered or counterfeit checks harder to spot. The USPIS and ABA Foundation recommend limiting access to checks and sensitive business information, asking the bank about check-monitoring or fraud-prevention services, and exploring positive pay. Positive pay is a bank-provided service that can require checks presented against an account to be verified.
Rank #3
- Impression Size: The stamped image measures approximately 2 3/16" x 13/16" and is made of deeply etched rubber for maximum clarity.
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Businesses should also use secure postal drop-off, collect incoming mail promptly, confirm checks reach their intended recipients, and flag outstanding items for follow-up. Details of monitoring and positive-pay services vary by bank; ask your bank which controls are available. See the ABA Foundation’s check-fraud guidance and USPIS check-washing guidance.
Quick Recap
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Rank #4
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- Self-inking design allows for quick, repetitive stamping, and a clear mount bottom allows you to accurately line up your impression.
- ExcelMark A1539 mount impression area: 9/16"x 1-1/2", Stamp impression: FOR DEPOSIT ONLY
- Re-inkable, replaceable ink pad prints in blue ink.
- Double-sided ink pad extends the longevity of your stamp before needing to be re-inked
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