Wilbraham Police warn against using USPS drop boxes to send money

WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) – The Wilbraham Police Department is warning residents not to use USPS drop boxes to send checks or money in any form.

According to the Wilbraham Police Department, fake checks have been reported to the police department that are believed to be involved with mailbox fishing schemes. A mailbox fishing scheme is when thieves gain access to US Post Office mailboxes and steal mail.

The thieves look for checks and other forms of money or personal information and use a solvent to wash the original writing off the check. The thieves can then easily alter the amount and the payee, and will typically have someone else deposit the check for them in exchange for a cut of the money. Victims of this scheme can end up losing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

USPS drop boxes are not secure containers, which means it is much safer to hand your mail containing checks to a letter carrier or counter staff directly. If you are going to use a USPS mailbox, try to drop off your mail as close to pick-up time as possible.

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