Options explored to prevent mail fraud
Mail thefts from the Farragut Post Office’s outside mailbox persist as the U.S. Postal Service and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office continue their investigations.
Another resident, Joseph DiMauro, emailed farragutpress, stating, “I read your article with much déjà vu, since we recently were also the victims of a mailed check that was stolen and forged.
“We posted it in the same mailbox outside of the Farragut Post Office that is in the picture with your article,” the resident stated. “Your reporting is quite spot-on, since we had to go through the same harrowing process that you describe.”
According to Kimberly Glenn, communications director with the Knox County Sheriff's Office, “There have been 21 reported cases within our jurisdiction in the last month.
“Nine of those were reportedly mailed out of the Farragut Post Office,” she added. “Based on the reporting, it would lead us to believe it is occurring daily.
“The numbers we are seeing are just a snapshot of the greater problem,” Glenn said. “We have a regional sorting center locally. The reports we see only apply to the victims who reside within our jurisdiction.
“The local USPS regional sorting center processes mail for a much larger
geographical area,” she said. “There are reports in other counties and states that we are not notified about.”
Glenn added the main reason for the frequent occurrence of mail theft and fraud is “likely financial gain with minimal risk.
“Our investigations have found that this type of financial theft is less of a single-individual crime and more of a larger criminal conspiracy,” she said. “The USPS system becomes the easiest source to obtain checks. Regardless of how the mail is taken, it is still concentrated within their system, which opens the opportunity for direct access to commit the theft.”
To avoid becoming a victim, Glenn recommended “the best option is to use direct payment.
“Most companies allow online or direct payments that go from one financial institution to another,” Glenn said. But, “if you are going to mail checks, go inside the post office. Avoid using the drive-up blue box containers.”
She also warned residents to “avoid mailing checks from your residential or business street mailbox. In some cases, hand the mail directly to the mail carrier.”
Similarly, resident Alicia Payne offered this advice to people writing checks: “My husband uses a Uni-ball and has for years since he first read about it.”
According to the manufacturer, “Using a black gel pen with pigment-based ink is the best choice for writing checks to prevent ‘check washing’ fraud, as the ink embeds into the paper fibers and resists chemical alteration.
“Top recommended options include the Uni-ball 207, Uni-ball Signo, Pilot G2 and Pentel EnerGel,” the manufacturer’s information stated.
Payne noted other brands also work.
“They are easily available on Amazon and at any store selling office supplies,” she added.
Five tips to protect against check theft
• Use direct or online payments whenever possible so funds transfer electronically between financial institutions rather than through the mail.
• Mail checks inside the post office, not in outside or drive-up blue collection boxes.
• Avoid residential and business street mailboxes when sending checks; hand mail directly to a postal clerk or carrier when possible.
• Write checks with a black gel pen that uses pigment-based ink, which helps prevent “check washing” and other alterations.
• Monitor bank accounts closely and report suspicious activity immediately to your bank and law enforcement.
