So far in 2022, more than 17,000 cases of check fraud have been reported in Illinois — compared to 13,000 cases in all of 2021, and 5,360 cases in 2014, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
One major culprit? A stolen check scheme called “check washing,” in which thieves steal checks from United States Postal Service mailboxes and erase the ink using household chemicals. They then rewrite the check to a different person and cash it at an ATM or currency exchange.
If you’ve been a victim of this old-fashioned scam, the Sun-Times would like to hear from and speak with you. Please fill out the form below and let us know if you’re willing to speak to a reporter about your experience.
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