Tinley Park Police Warn Of 'Major Uptick' In Check Washing Incidents

TINLEY PARK, IL — With a "major uptick" in reports of check washing, the Tinley Park Police Department is warning residents to take extra precautions and keep an eye on their accounts.

Check washing is a form of fraud in which criminals erase or alter information on a stolen check using common household chemicals to make it payable to themselves or others, the police department said.

Fraudsters typically steal these checks while in transit via the United States Postal Service, and erase all the original ink aside from the signature. More advanced fraudsters can steal the check, digitally wash it, and then put it back, with the recipient being none the wiser.

Residents can protect themselves from check washing by using a gel pen when writing checks, as the ink is harder to wash off. Residents also reminded to monitor their bank accounts regularly to check for unauthorized transactions. A good deterrent to cash washing is using electronic payment methods instead whenever possible, police said.

Tinley Park Police do not take the lead on reports of check washing, the department said, but they do cooperate with federal agencies. Residents should still contact local police, who will document the incident in an initial report, police said.

If you suspect you’ve been the victim of check washing, contact your bank immediately to report the issue and secure your accounts. Immediately after this, file a report with the Tinley Park Police Department so they can begin an investigation.

The incident should also be reported directly to the USPS.

More information from the TPPD available online.