Check Washing Crimes Reported In Palatine

PALATINE, IL — The Palatine Police Crime Prevention Unit said they're aware of several recent cases of check washing crimes in the community. Check washing fraud is a process during which someone removes or "washes"off information written on a check and replaces it with their own.

According to the village, police recommend conducting your banking and bill payments online as one way to minimize check washing fraud.

Police also recommend using a "pigment" based pen to write all of your checks, as these pens are a quick, simple measure to protect yourself, and can be found at local drug stores and office supply chains.

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Police advise community members to look for the following phrases on the packaging:

• Prevents Check Fraud
• Check Security
• Anti-Fraud
• Fraud Protection

In addition, recommend mailing anything containing a check in a designated USPS mailbox because putting outgoing mail in your mailbox along with putting your mailbox's red flag up can make it easier for thieves to target your mail, according to police.

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