Check Washing Scams in Culpeper County – Over $46,000 Lost

The Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is warning residents about an increase in check washing scams that have already resulted in over $46,000 in losses.

What’s Happening?

Scammers are using chemicals to “wash” checks—removing the ink and changing the payee names and amounts before fraudulently cashing them. In some cases, they are even creating fake checks using scanners or copiers. Victims often realize they've been scammed when the intended recipient—whether it’s a mortgage company, business associate, or family member—never receives the payment. Upon investigation, banks confirm the checks were altered and cashed without authorization.

Key Details:

• Most incidents involve checks mailed from residential mailboxes or post office drop boxes.

• Criminals are intercepting and altering checks during the mail routing process.

• A CCSO detective has been assigned to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Task Force to investigate and prevent further cases.

How You Can Protect Yourself:

• Use gel pens when writing checks – ink is harder to remove.

• Deposit mail directly at the post office or hand it to a mail carrier to reduce the risk of interception.

• Consider using online bill pay or electronic transfers, which are safer alternatives to mailing checks.

• Check your bank account regularly for unauthorized transactions to catch fraud early.

If you suspect that your mail has been tampered with or if you're a victim of check fraud, please contact your local Sheriff’s Office immediately.

Stay vigilant and protect yourself from these types of scams! 

Source: Culpeper County Sheriff's Office