SELLERSBURG, Ind. (WDRB) — Check washing is making the rounds in southern Indiana and Louisville.

Thieves don't need access to your bank account. They just need access to your mail. Once they steal your check, they rewrite it and forge everything but your name.

"When you send out (an) almost $30,000 check, you expect it to go to the person that it was made out to," Jennifer Brummett said. "I felt like I was robbed."

A stolen envelope turned into a costly surprise for Brummett and her pool business. A few weeks ago, she mailed checks for bills and payroll at the Clarksville Post Office.

"The largest one cleared," she said. "When I clicked it, it was not cleared to the person that I wrote it to."

It's a scam where getting "cleaned out" is exactly what it sounds like. Thieves take legitimate checks and chemically wash away the ink, removing key details while leaving the signature intact.

Before you know it, your check is through the cycle and cashed. While the ink disappears, the pain doesn't fade nearly as fast.

"We had to close that account entirely," Brummett said. "I have no words, honestly. It's sickening to think that that's somebody's career, basically."

"Once it's out there, they have your address, your account, your routing number," Erin Ray, community manager with Chase Bank, said.

Scammers can then reprint more checks and leave your account high and dry.

"Use a gel ink pen instead of a ballpoint pen," ISP Sgt. Carey Huls said. "It's harder for that type of ink to be washed off of a check. But if you don't have to, don't mail that check."

The scheme now catches law enforcement's attention. The US Postal Inspection Service and Indiana State Police are investigating several cases.

USPIS and USPS sent WDRB the following statement:

"United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is aware of reports regarding stolen mail within Louisville and southern Indiana. There are ongoing investigations being conducted by USPIS offices located in Louisville and Indianapolis. USPIS is in contact with local law enforcement who have received reports of the theft and have been instrumental in identifying local victims of this illegal activity.

"Combating mail theft is a priority for USPIS. We are coordinating with the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute criminal enterprises targeting the mail for their illegal activity. If any your viewers have been victims of this crime or have witnessed suspicious activity related to these criminal acts, they can report it to USPIS by calling 1-877-876-2455 or by filing a mail theft complaint online at https://www.uspis.gov/report."

The Louisville Metro Police Department said officers have investigated 461 reports of scams so far this year but did not break down what kinds of scams those are or how many of those were check washing.

"We've received probably 1,200 reports," Sgt. Scott Shafer, with LMPD's Financial Crimes Unit, said. "But those are cases that get sent to other jurisdictions because the crime did not occur in this jurisdiction."

Ray said it's "never 100% guaranteed" victims will get their money back.

"That's the unfortunate part," she said. "That's another reason being educated, aware and alert helps you pay attention to those signs." 

Brummett now switches to electronic payments whenever possible, even when it costs extra. She said it's worth her piece of mind.

"I have to," she said. "I would rather pay a 3% fee on something than go through this again."

If you think you’ve been targeted, act quickly. The Federal Trade Commission recommends contacting your bank, reporting the fraud to police and monitoring your accounts closely. 

WDRB also reached out to the Indiana Attorney General, New Albany Police Department and Clarksville Police Department for this story, but did not hear back.

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