Stop Sending Checks in the Mail in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts folks, stop sending checks in the mail.

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Do you remember when there was a time when you could send a check in the mail without having to worry about issues?  I remember mailing a check to a friend in Westfield for his birthday. Likewise, my mother occasionally would mail a check to my home in Pittsfield for my birthday, and we all thought nothing of it. I remember even sending a check to someone in Boston back in the day. Times have certainly changed, and Massachusetts folks may have to learn a new habit

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Why Should Massachusetts Residents Stop Mailing Checks? Is This Method Now Illegal?  

While it is still legal to send checks in the mail, the USPS advises against this practice due to theft and fraud issues. The same goes for cash. Fraud cases are on the rise and many checks aren't making it to the correct recipients. AARP stated in a 2023 article the following regarding fraud and theft of paper checks in the mail.

Last year (2022), banks identified 680,000 reports of check fraud, up from 350,000 in 2021. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service reported that about 300,000 mail theft complaints were made in 2021, more than double the complaints in 2020. That’s happening even as the number of paper checks in circulation has declined dramatically, to roughly 3.4 billion checks in 2022.

 

What are Some Safe Alternatives to Sending Checks in the Mail in Massachusetts? 

If you insist on sending a paper check in the mail, there are a couple of alternatives you can choose from to avoid check fraud and theft, including handing your mail directly to your mail carrier or using a secure mail drop inside your local post office or at your place of business.

Apps and Credit Cards Work Too

According to AARP, safer options include using cash transfer apps like Zelle or paying by credit card. With so much fraud activity and theft taking place these days, it's more important than ever to protect ourselves. Eventhough many people are not writing as many checks these days, there are still thousands of people getting ripped off by the bad guys. Now is the time to go paperless. You can get more information, including more helpful tips, by going here.