October 24, 2026, 5:03 a.m. ET
If you’re still sending paper checks in the mail, consumer advocates say, it’s time to stop.
Fraud experts say every time you drop a check in the mailbox, you’re putting your bank account at risk. Check fraud is on the rise, even as the number of checks in circulation declines. In 2025, according to federal data, Americans lost more money to check fraud than to debit card or gift card scams.
Consumers write fewer checks these days, but the amounts are larger and thieves know it.
“Criminals know that when they see a check in the mail, it’s less likely to be a $10 check and more likely to be a $10,000 check,” said Scott Anchin, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and policy at Independent Community Bankers of America, speaking to USA TODAY in September.
Paper checks used to be everywhere. However, in 2024, they represented only 3% of all payments in the United States, according to the Federal Reserve.
Consumers wrote checks to pay their bills, shop for groceries and hit the gym again. Today, people often write checks for larger one-time transactions, such as paying a contractor or a tax bill.
Bigger checks mean higher fraud stakes
Bigger checks mean higher stakes for thieves. Check fraud has been around for a very long time, but modern technology offers fraudsters new, more powerful tools.
“Twenty or thirty years ago we were talking about solo operators,” Anchin said. “Now you have real organized crime gangs that are engaging in check fraud. They’re stealing checks in bulk. And then they have an incredible amount of technology that they can use to alter the check or to create new checks from scratch.”
While electronic payments have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, the paper check has not really evolved.
“The check is still basically the same,” Joe Bernardo, Wells Fargo’s chief fraud and claims manager, said in a September interview. “And fraudsters are always looking for weaknesses to exploit in the process.”
Thieves extract checks from residential mailboxes and collect them from USPS drop boxes. Larger operations steal entire bags of mail.
Once criminals receive your check, they can “erase” your name with acetone, bleach or rubbing alcohol, said Adam Rust, director of financial services at the Consumer Federation of America, speaking in September.
The thief can change the amount and the payee and deposit the check himself. Or, they can leave it empty and sell it on the dark web.
The information on your check alone puts your finances at risk.
“Your account number and routing number appear on the check,” Rust said. “It’s very personal. It’s very sensitive.”
Chuck Bell, director of advocacy programs at Consumer Reports, was the victim of check fraud in 2021. Thieves found his heating bill in a collection box, forged the check and cashed it for $25,000. He got the money back a few weeks later.
Can we all stop writing checks?
The obvious solution, according to Bell, is for consumers to stop writing checks. In 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to phase out paper checks to and from the federal government.
But the alternatives don’t appeal to everyone.
Some Americans “never got used to making payments by phone or computer,” Bell said in a September interview. “If you want to move the whole country to digital payments, it’s not as simple as it seems.”
Consumer advocates say the safest way to pay someone is online, with a credit or debit card or electronic check. Most businesses, government agencies and medical practices have secure portals for online payments.
Your bank’s automatic bill pay app is another relatively secure option. The bank sometimes uses a paper check, Anchin said, but it’s much more secure than sending your own check in the mail.
Payment apps present their own security risks.
The banking industry has a soft spot for Zelle, a money transfer service that lets you send money directly through your bank account. Because the service is integrated into your banking app, industry leaders say, it’s relatively secure.
In an in-depth 2023 analysis, Consumer Reports compared Venmo, Zelle, Cash App and Apple Cash in terms of security, privacy and transparency. Cash App and Apple received high marks for security. Apple got top marks for privacy.
Overall, Anchin said, “I think an electronic payment is still more secure than a check payment. »
Here are tips for keeping checks secure
What if you had to send a check? Here are some tips to keep it safe.
Ask your bank for secure checks
Not all checks are created equal, advises Consumer Reports.
Look for checks with security features that thwart thieves, including watermarks, holograms and chemically sensitive paper or ink.
Write the check in permanent ink
It is much more difficult to “wash” a check written with permanent ink, advises the American Bankers Association.
An online search for “permanent,” “indelible,” or “anti-fraud” pens will lead you to the right product. Avoid ballpoint pens.
“It’s really trivial to wash ballpoint ink off a check,” Anchin said.
Don’t leave any blank space
When you write a check, don’t leave space for a fraudster to add zeros or a second name. Fill in the spaces yourself.
Mail the check as securely as possible
Leaving a check in your mailbox overnight is a bad idea, consumer advocates say. It’s best to find a USPS mailbox or, better yet, take the letter to the post office.
“The more touchpoints there are along the way, the more bad things can happen,” Bernardo said.
Track the check through the system
Check your bank account to verify that your check has been deposited. Examine the image of the check to make sure the payee has not changed. Contact the recipient to make sure they actually cashed it.
Report suspected fraud immediately
You should contact your bank and the police about potential fraud, the ABA recommends.
Banks often require customers to report fraud within 30 days, Rust said.
“The bank is responsible for the counterfeit checks,” he said. “But they can claim you were negligent if they sent you the statement and you didn’t respond in time.”
This may seem unfair, but it means you may not get your money back if you wait too long to make a claim.
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