The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Police/Courts

November 2, 2009

Beckley Police warn of local check washing scam

By Courtney D. Clark

Beckley City Police Chief of Detectives Capt. Jeff Shumate is warning local residents about a check washing scam after law enforcement has investigated some five cases in the past two months.

“We have someone that is going through and removing mail that is being mailed out from residential mailboxes,” Shumate said. “This person, or group of people, are locating and recovering checks that are in the mail to pay bills.

“They do a process called check washing,” he continued, “which essentially removes all of the ink from the check. Then, they write their own information on the check and cash it.”

Authorities said around five check washing cases have been reported from early September to late October.

“We are actually investigating the possibility that one person or group of people are responsible for all of those,” Shumate said. “There’s some similarities in the crime between all of those that are occurring throughout the different jurisdictions, so we think it may be the same person behind each case.”

According to Shumate, there has been no specific location. Several of the checks have been stolen from areas outside Beckley, but they are being passed to stores inside the city.

Beckley Detective Jamie Blume, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department and agencies in Fayette County are investigating.

Blume and Shumate advise residents to be vigilant regarding people hanging around their neighborhood.

“If you see someone around your mailbox or going through a neighbor’s mail, obtain as much information about that subject as possible,” Shumate said.

“Try to get a description of the person and vehicle, and a vehicle registration number, then contact law enforcement. We’re more than happy to always respond and investigate those types of calls.”

Blume added that dropping letters at a post office in a secure deposit spot is probably a safer practice than leaving them for pickup from a residential box.

“There’s also a special type of ink that can be used to help prevent check washing,” Shumate said. “Uni-Ball 207 Gel Pens are one type of pen that actually absorb into the paper to keep documents safe.”

Anyone with information regarding check washing is encouraged to call the Beckley Police Department at 304-256-1720 or Crime Stoppers at 304-255-7867.

— E-mail: cclark@register-herald.com

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