DA Janet DiFiore: Watch Out for 'Check Washing'
By Janet DiFiore, Westchester County District Attorney
Jun. 10, 2015: In 2014, the Westchester County District Attorney's office created an identity theft unit in response to an exploding number of ID theft, credit card fraud, and check washing complaints. The unit prosecuted and investigated 226 cases, resulting, so far, in 83 felony convictions.
Identity theft and credit card fraud are widely understood, but what is "check washing"? It's the chemical erasing of the handwritten parts of the check you have written.
Criminals remove the payee portion and the amount. Your signature remains intact. They use solvents such as acetone, brake fluid, and bleach. Once the check is "washed," the payee and/or the amount of the check can be altered. The thief often inflates the amount. Forty-five dollars becomes $645 dollars, as an example.
Tips for minimizing your risk of check washing include:
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Never put outgoing bills in your house mailbox. Avoid placing your mail in street mailboxes. In some cases, thieves have targeted them. It's strongly recommended that you take your outgoing mail to your local post office.
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Minimize the number of checks you write. Your best option is to pay bills online using a secure computer. This minimizes the possibility of your checks being stolen through the mailing process.
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When writing out checks, use a gel ink pen (preferably black) so the ink will permeate the fibers of the check. There are brands that advertise that they are non-erasable.
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Never leave blank spaces on the payee or amount lines. Write large and use XXs to fill in space.
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Shred cleared checks returned along with your bank statements.
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Review your bank statements immediately. You have a limited time frame in which to report fraudulent transactions. When fraud is detected, it is necessary to report it within 30 days (UCC Code 4-406).
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If possible, have your new checks delivered to your bank.
Photo by N. Bower
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends
Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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