After WSB Radio reported on a rise in incidents of checks being “washed” or stolen at a United States Post Office in Dunwoody, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is demanding answers from top USPS officials.
“I write today to draw your attention to reports of mail theft and check washing in Dunwoody, Georgia, and to urge you to immediately prioritize any investigations into these incidents,” Warnock’s letter states. “I am deeply disturbed that bad actors are attempting to steal thousands of dollars from hardworking Georgia families and may be doing so through security issues within USPS.”
According to information on the Postal Inspection Services website, “check washing” occurs when scammers change the payee’s name on the check and often the dollar amount and then try and cash it. “Occasionally, these checks are stolen from mailboxes and washed in chemicals to remove the ink.”
In our reporting, WSB spoke to the city’s mayor, police officials and a local business owner who was a victim of the crime.
“It just seems like there’s something almost organized about what’s happening right now,” said Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch. “I hope the postal inspector general is doing everything they can do to figure this out.”
Deutsch told WSB that her office has been forwarding complaints to Sen. Warnock’s office in hopes of getting action.
“I don’t know what proportion of people have had these issues arise, but it’s not insignificant,” Deutsch said.
Local police officials told WSB’s Jonathan O’Brien that the department is investigating more than 50 reports of stolen checks from inside the Dunwoody Village Post Office and the outside drop box. The thefts are worth an estimated $250,000.
“Unfortunately, our detectives don’t have any leads on any of this,” said Sgt. Michael Cheek, spokesman for Dunwoody Police.
Local restaurant owner Andra Galtieri mailed three excise tax checks from inside the location in October. She was stunned when her bank called to tell her someone was trying to cash one of the checks for $8,000. A few days later, someone attempted to cash another one of the checks.
“We were very fortunate; we didn’t lose the money; they put the money back in our account right away,” Galtieri explained. “It was the first time I have ever experienced that it was stolen from the mail, and we know that because the three checks were together.”
Galtieri said she won’t send money or checks through the mail anymore, something Mayor Lynn Deutsch understands.
“I know it’s really disappointing that people who behave badly can impact what, for some people, is just their normal course of business, but we know that something is not working properly,” Deutsch said.
Warnock’s letter asks for Postal officials to respond by Nov. 30, 2022.