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What to Do If a Check Is Stolen From Your Mail

If a check mailed through USPS may have been stolen, contact your bank first. Find out whether it was paid, then take the right steps to stop or dispute it and report the theft.
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Contact your bank or credit union immediately and find out whether the check is still outstanding or has already been paid. If it has not been cashed, ask about a stop payment before sending a replacement. If it was paid fraudulently, dispute the transaction and request copies of both sides of the check. Also notify the intended recipient and report suspected mail theft to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and local police.

This guidance applies to checks sent through U.S. Mail. Your bank’s procedures and the legal rules that apply depend on the facts and jurisdiction. If the missing item is a U.S. Treasury check, contact the agency that issued it and follow that agency’s process.

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1. Contact your bank or credit union first

Call the institution that holds the account the check was written from. Say that the check may have been stolen, and provide its number, amount, payee and mailing date if you know them. Ask whether the check has been presented or paid.

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  • If it is still outstanding: Ask whether the bank can place a stop payment and what it requires before you issue a replacement. Check directly with the bank about any fee or time limit; procedures and fees vary.
  • If it has been paid: Tell the bank you believe it was stolen and fraudulently cashed, and ask how to open a dispute. Request images of the front and back of the check and ask where it was deposited, if that information is available.

USPS advises considering whether to close a potentially compromised account and open another in the situations it describes. Discuss that option with your bank; a missing check does not automatically mean every account must be closed.

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2. Dispute a check that was cashed without authorization

Give the bank the facts you have and ask it to investigate and restore the money. Keep copies of any check images, account statements showing the debit, and messages or letters about the claim.

The signature and how the check was processed matter. CFPB guidance says state law generally provides that a consumer is not responsible when someone forges the signature of the person to whom the check was payable. It distinguishes that situation from a signed blank check that someone else fills in and cashes; recovery may not be available in that case. If the check was processed as an electronic transfer, additional federal-law protections may apply. These distinctions do not guarantee a particular outcome, so make the claim promptly and let the institution assess the facts. CFPB: What can I do if a check was stolen and cashed?

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3. Notify the person or business you meant to pay

Tell the intended recipient that the original check may be compromised. Coordinate any replacement with your bank first. If the original later arrives, ask the recipient not to accept or deposit it.

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4. Report the suspected mail theft

Report the theft to USPIS online through its mail-theft reporting page or by calling 1-877-876-2455. Also file a report with local police. USPIS investigates mail theft; a general USPS service complaint is a different process. If you suspect a USPS employee was involved, report that concern to the USPS Office of Inspector General.

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Be ready to provide details that help identify what happened:

  • The date, time and location where the check was mailed, and the mail service used.
  • The original payee’s name and contact information.
  • The financial institution where the check was deposited, if known.
  • Copies of both sides of an altered check, if you have them.

Preserve relevant evidence, such as the envelope, mailing receipt and security footage, and provide it to investigators if requested. See USPS guidance on reporting mail theft and USAGov’s USPIS contact information.

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5. Use the issuing agency’s process for a Treasury check

For a missing, stolen or destroyed U.S. Treasury check, report the problem to the agency that issued it rather than treating it like an ordinary personal check. USAGov’s government-check guidance can help identify the relevant process.

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6. Take identity-theft steps if personal information was exposed

A missing check alone does not prove that someone stole your identity. If other mail or personal information was also taken, review account activity and credit reports, contact affected financial institutions and creditors, and consider placing a fraud alert. USPS provides identity-theft guidance; USAGov explains how to respond to identity theft.

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Keep a record of the claim

Write down dates, names, case or claim numbers, and what each institution or agency tells you. Keep copies of letters and forms, check images, statements showing the debit, and any mailing records. A clear record helps you follow up with the bank and investigators.

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