If you’re due a tax refund and are reluctant to receive it by direct deposit, here’s a reason to reconsider. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has reported a surge in check fraud schemes using the U.S. mail. The latest available figures from FinCEN show that from 2020 to 2022, the number of suspicious activity reports related to check fraud nearly doubled, to over 680,000. Criminals steal checks from many sources and cash them. They also may use information from stolen mail to exploit victims with future schemes such as credit card fraud. Victims of mail-theft check fraud should report thefts by calling the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455.
