One more thing to worry about: Mailbox fishing

Hallie Ephron: Today, a PSA...

Am I the only one who’s been freaked out by the latest crime wave – mailbox fishing? Thieves go literally "fishing" in blue postal service collection boxes, looking for envelopes containing bill payment checks. They “wash” the checks and write in a new payee and a new amount, then deposit the altered check in an ATM. The bank passes the check and, Bobs your Uncle, you’ve been scammed.

From a single check, thieves can use the printed information to print out even more fake ones. 

Talk about low-tech fraud.

I used to think it was safe to mail my bill payments in the drop box right in front of my local post office, but I just found out someone in my town had her bill payment fished from that very drop box, altered, and cashed. She had even been careful to drop the payment into the mailbox just before mail was scheduled to be picked up.

Advice for how to avoid getting fished includes bringing your snail mail to post office and depositing the outgoing mail slot inside the building. 

Also, use gel pens with permanent ink (I just invested in a half dozen) to write your checks. They’re harder to “wash.” Does anyone know if that's truly a deterrent?

Here’s more advice.

• The most secure way to send mail is through the local Post Office retail counter. The next safest way is to use the inside collection slots that deposit mail directly into the Post Office. 
• If using the Postal Service’s outside blue collection boxes, never deposit mail after the last dispatch time. Avoid depositing mail during the night, Sundays, and federal holidays. 
• If you see someone going into a collection box or mail delivery receptacle during non-postal work hours, contact your local police, and notify postal inspectors at 877-876-2455. 
• Sign up for Informed Delivery to be notified about mail that the USPS expects to deliver to you. 
• If you think you are a victim of mail theft, contact local law enforcement and the United States Postal Inspection Service. In addition to the Postal Service’s reward on mail thieves, robbery of an on-duty postal employee carries a reward of up to $50,000. Tips can be made anonymously via 877-876-2455, or postalinspectors.uspis.gov. 

This latest scam has been encouraging me to move my bill payments 100% online and write checks only when I absolutely need to. Such a nuisance.

What are you doing different to protect yourself, or is this whole thing about mailbox fishing news to you?