Check fraud: USPS mail bags stolen in 3 cities, sheriff warns

Checks residents mailed were stolen from local post offices, the Martin County Sheriff's Office posted Friday.

Eleven people reported having their checks stolen and altered after they mailed them from post offices in Stuart, Palm City and Hobe Sound, according to the Facebook post. The Sheriff's Office has not responded to TCPalm's questions about the check amounts and when these incidents occurred.

Here's what to know about the scam and how to protect your checks.

• Large bags of mail dropped off at post offices have been stolen, the Postal Inspector told the Sheriff's Office.
• The thieves have changed the check amounts and recipient’s name.
• If you've mailed a check recently, check your bank account to see if it was cashed and if the intended recipient is the one who cashed it. Also check with the intended recipient to make sure.
• If it was cashed by someone else, contact your bank and the Sheriff’s Office at at 772-220-7000.

Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com , 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene .

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Check fraud: USPS mail bags stolen in 3 cities, sheriff warns