Mail Check Fraud, also known as Postal Fraud
Mail Check Fraud (also known as postal fraud) refers to the illegal act of intercepting, altering, or stealing checks sent through the mail in order to commit fraud. This type of fraud typically involves stealing checks from mailboxes or mail carriers, and then either altering the check details (e.g., changing the payee, amount, or signature) or forging a new check altogether. Fraudsters may also redirect checks intended for others by altering the recipient's address. The goal is to unlawfully gain access to the funds or to make fraudulent withdrawals using the stolen checks.
Example: A fraudster steals a tax refund check from a victim’s mailbox, changes the payee’s name to their own, and cashes the check at a bank. In some cases, they may also create counterfeit checks using the stolen information to continue stealing from the victim. This type of fraud often targets checks sent through the mail, such as tax refunds, government benefits, or other financial payments.
With built-in check fraud mitigation capabilities, Unify, Alogent’s modern deposits platform for all full- and self-service channels, helps protect financial institutions and their account holders by mitigating attempts before they reach the back office or downstream workflows.
