A visit from family turned into a financial fraud investigation after a Chicago man told Portsmouth Police his niece cashed the same check twice, months apart, by chemically altering it.
The man said he visited his niece in Portsmouth back in February and wrote her a check during the trip. According to the police report, she cashed the check once as intended but then manipulated the original check and cashed it again in September.
The man contacted his bank after noticing the double withdrawal. Bank staff told him the check had been “washed” using chemicals, a common fraud technique where ink is erased or altered, allowing scammers to reuse the check with new information.
Portsmouth officers took information for a report and are investigating the case.
What Is Check Washing?
Check washing is a form of fraud in which thieves steal a check, then use household chemicals to erase the ink on the payee and amount lines. Once “washed,” they rewrite the check for a larger amount or change the recipient’s name and then cash it again.
Washed checks can:
- Drain your bank account before you notice
- Make recovery difficult if not caught quickly
- Often involve someone with access to the original check
How to Protect Yourself from Check Washing
To reduce your risk of falling victim:
- Use a gel pen (preferably black) when writing checks: gel ink penetrates the paper and is harder to wash out.
- Avoid leaving checks in outgoing mailboxes; drop them at a post office or hand them to a clerk.
- Check your statements regularly for unusual withdrawals or duplicate check numbers.
- Enable account alerts through your bank’s app or website.
If you suspect a check has been altered or misused, report it to your bank immediately and file a police report.
Check fraud may seem old-fashioned, but criminals are still using it, and it often starts with someone you trust.