The bank has recently seen an increase in check fraud — much of it originating from mail theft. In some instances, thieves are fishing envelopes out of postal boxes or stealing them directly from personal mailboxes.  In extreme cases, thieves have even reportedly robbed postal carriers of their keys or broken into the boxes in search of checks. Once checks have been obtained, criminals are using chemicals to “wash” the payee and payment amount and then dramatically increase the value of the check.
 

Tips For Protection

While some would advise that you should review postal pickup times and not drop off mail in blue boxes overnight, others suggest only dropping off mail inside the post office. At North Shore Bank we would recommend the following best practices:
 

• Closely monitor your accounts with online banking and review your monthly statements to verify that the checks listed match those recorded in your register.

• Sign up for e-Statements — this is an effective deterrent for both mail fraud and Identity Theft.

• Consider using online bill pay — allowing you to send payments electronically and circumvent traditional mail entirely.

Finally, if you do find discrepancies in your account statement, contact North Shore Bank’s Customer Support immediately at (978) 573-1300.