I've been getting a lot of checks in the mail. Have you?

[Schema Thing]

That got your attention! :)

They are all blank checks, with my name on them, from Citi, Chase, Capital One, Discover, etc. Basically all the credit cards I have accounts with.


My question is; what prevents the Postman (or anyone else really) from taking them from my mailbox and buying stuff with said checks? I understand that pretty much any teenager who wants one can get a fake ID, so what would prevent someone from getting a fake drivers license with AchtungToddler on it, and using my checks to make purchases?

I'm probably missing something obvious, but what?

[exothermic]

1. I get several every week. If the postman is a crook, we are probably at risk

no matter what. I don't leave mail out in the box and I shred the checks as soon as I bring them in the house.
Don't really know what more to do...
grr

[roguevalley]

6. write return to sender and they will take you off. don't ever use them

unless you are against it. I hear the fees with them make stone monkeys tremble.

[Uben]

2. I always shred them

The opportunity for fraud is there, so one should always destroy them before discarding. I'm sure you would have no liability because they have no way of telling whether or not they ever came into your possession. And, since you did not request them, they take all the risk.

[carlyhippy]

3. I get several every day in the mail

either those or cc offers. I spend a good deal of saturday morning shredding those things. I wish they would stop sending them to me, I have no use for them.

[thecrow]

4. You can call your credit card company and request that these not be sent

I did it yesterday. It usually takes about six weeks.
Also, there is usually a number you can call to opt out of special offers.
I hate it that they waster all this paper on me!

[Skink]

5. I've been putting a lot of checks in the mail

137 for electric this month. For a small apt.

[earth mom]

7. Why would you suspect the postman so readily?!

:wtf:

Sorry but you have a much bigger chance having a stranger drive up after the postman leaves your mail and stealing it.

Get a locking mailbox if you are that worried.

[Schema Thing]

8. Jesus Christ you people are literalist!!!!

:)


I'm just asking why this isn't a huge problem. Obviously the postman isn't the only, or even most likely person to misuse them.


I'm just curious as to whether there is something in place that makes it unlikely for thieves to do this, since, again obviously, I'm not the only person who gets these checks every other day.

[pitohui]

9. well, it isn't your problem it's the credit card company's

as you say, these "checks" are stolen and cashed by criminals almost every day, but you are not the one who is responsible if they are stolen and cashed, the credit card company is the one who has to pay

actual experience -- it happened to us -- didn't cost us a dime (they ran up a bit under $1000, presumably to keep it under a limit where it would be prosecuted as a felony)

if it really worries you, you can notify your credit card companies that you don't want to be receiving these kind of offers and they have to stop mailing them at your request