The post offices where I live have had problems with people stealing mail by using tape at the ends of sticks and fishing it out. They steal the checks out of the mail and then use the information to make withdrawals from your account.
I don’t write a lot of checks, but I do have to mail out about 4 checks a month. I dropped them off at the post office and, when I deposited them, something didn’t feel right. I check my accounts every morning. I noticed a check for $4,000 pending. I knew I had not written a check for that amount. I contacted the fraud department immediately and was able to stop the funds from being withdrawn because the transaction was still pending. I ended up closing all my bank accounts and getting new ones. It was a big hassle. I am just glad I check my accounts multiple times a day.
Now, I go in and hand my envelopes directly to the staff at the post office; this way, the envelopes go to be processed and aren’t available to be fished out. Yes, it is inconvenient but less so than getting all new bank accounts and checks. My advice is if you have to mail a check, take it directly to the post office and hand it over the counter. It is sad that we must be this careful.
If you are struggling to keep up with all your day-to-day tasks, it might be time to update your Trust so you have a child or friend by your side as a Co-trustee who can help you monitor your accounts and take care of all your business. Give me a call if you are ready to update your documents.
