Stolen mail fuels fraud wave in Brighton as criminals alter checks for cash

Mar 5, 2026, 5:18 PM

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Stolen mail fuels fraud wave in Brighton as criminals alter checks for cash

In a New York town, there is a significant rise in a fraud scheme involving the theft of checks directly from official collection boxes.

The town of Brighton, New York currently has 20 open cases involving check washing fraud after checks are being deposited into USPS collection boxes.

Check washing involves a thief first stealing a check, then using chemicals to remove the ink from parts of the check such as who it’s made out to and the amount, letting them steal the money for themselves.

For the original sender of the check, it means that their payment wasn’t made to the company or loved one they intended, but rather deposited by the suspect(s) in these cases.

“That’s when the victims realized the check has been changed and altered and the payee isn’t who they sent it out to. The amount has changed,” said Sergeant Rebecca Halpin of the Bright Police Department, who is leading this investigation, to local CBS affiliate WROC.

Americans are losing cash that was supposed to go to their loved ones and bills, and they aren’t even able to do anything about it

The checks are being stolen from USPS collection boxes, with some arrests already made

While Halpin is actively investigating the situation, she unfortunately has no advice for victims’ next steps, saying that she and her team “have a lot of questions that we need to find the answers to.”

Halpin also clarified that the inherent nature of check washing fraud cases usually means multiple jurisdictions are involved, further complicating investigative matters and potentially making arrests more difficult.

However, the Brighton PD has made multiple arrests, but is actively looking for more suspects and working closely with the USPS and the state’s Department of Financial Services on the issue.

In the meantime, she’s stressing that the citizens of Brighton take extra cautionary measures in how they send their checks, and be proactive in following up after sending said checks.

“Be careful. If you can take the money directly to the establishment of where the money is going, do that. If you think something should have been paid and two weeks go by or you’re waiting a month – follow up with that company you paid the check to,” she advised.

Other cities across the nation have also seen a rise in check washing schemes, to the point that even the USPS issued warnings on them last year.

Ashley Miller

Business & Markets Reporter