Boston residents should be on high alert as there has been a spike in check fraud crimes across the city. The Boston Police Department has reported an increase in incidents of check washing and check theft, particularly in specific districts. According to an official statement on the Boston Police Department's website, these crimes are becoming more frequent in South End, Allston/Brighton, Roslindale/West Roxbury, and Hyde Park.
With the rise in these financial crimes, the United States Postal Service has responded by issuing an advisory for the public. The BPD has taken steps to address the problem, and as part of their community outreach, they've provided tips for residents to protect their checks. These tips include, but aren't limited to, prompt removal of mail, refraining from sending checks or cash via mail when possible, and the importance of monitoring bank accounts regularly to catch any unauthorized transactions.
The police are encouraging anyone who has fallen victim to these crimes to report their experiences as soon as they're discovered. This information can be crucial in tracking patterns and potentially identifying suspects. Given the gravity of the situation, the Boston Police Department is dedicating resources to investigate these crimes and urge vigilance among community members.
Check washing involves thieves stealing checks from mailboxes, using chemicals to remove the ink, and then rewriting them to cash or deposit for themselves. It's a brazen theft, but one that can often be prevented with residents taking the aforementioned precautions. As criminals evolve in their methods of subterfuge and theft, understanding and practicing basic security steps in handling one's finances becomes increasingly essential.
