Check Interception and Diversion via Postal Mail
How fraudsters intercept cheques in transit through the postal network or at the delivery point, diverting them for deposit into fraudulent accounts.
Part of: Check Interception and Diversion Fraud
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Check interception and diversion differs from check washing in that the cheque is used largely as-is rather than altered. Fraudsters intercept cheques at various points in the postal chain — at collection boxes, sorting facilities, or during last-mile delivery — and either deposit them using remote deposit capture or sell them as blank instruments with real signatures to be completed fraudulently.
The growth of mobile cheque deposit has expanded opportunities for this fraud because a cheque image captured remotely can be deposited without physically presenting the item, allowing fraudsters to deposit intercepted cheques into mule accounts before the original intended recipient realises anything has gone wrong.
High-value cheques — tax refunds, government benefit payments, large business payables — are particularly targeted because they offer greater returns for the risk.
How this scam works on postal mail
A business payment cheque, government refund, or personal cheque mailed to a known recipient is extracted from the postal system at a collection point or delivery stage. In some cases an insider at a postal facility is involved. The cheque is photographed and deposited via mobile banking into an account controlled by the fraudster, often before it would have arrived at the intended recipient.
The sending account is debited. The intended recipient reports non-receipt. By the time the fraud is identified, the funds have typically been withdrawn and the deposit account closed or abandoned.
In diversion schemes the fraudster files a fraudulent change-of-address or mail redirection to cause high-value mail to be delivered to a location they control.
Common red flags
- Expected cheque payment does not arrive within the normal postal timeframe
- Sent cheque was cleared from your account but the recipient reports it was never received
- Tax authority or government benefit payment cheque was cashed but you never received it
- Bank shows a mobile deposit on the account that you did not make
How to protect yourself
- Send cheques by tracked mail or courier for high-value payments
- Use electronic funds transfer for large payments rather than cheques
- Set up bank account alerts for any cheque clearance to identify unexpected items immediately
- For tax refunds, use direct deposit to your bank account rather than paper cheque
- Monitor mail delivery through USPS Informed Delivery for expected items
How to report it
- Report to the USPS Postal Inspection Service at postalinspectors.uspis.gov
- Report to your bank and the bank that processed the fraudulent deposit
- File a report with IC3 at ic3.gov if large sums were involved
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify a cheque was actually received?
Ask the recipient to confirm receipt once you have mailed it. For high-value cheques, use tracked postal services. Better still, switch to electronic payment for large amounts — bank transfers provide end-to-end confirmation of receipt.