Check Fraud Is on the Rise—Even as Fewer People Use Paper Checks

In fact, the Associated Press reported that check fraud incidents increased by 11% in 2025 compared to the prior year, despite a 7% drop in checks overall.

So, What’s Happening?

Criminals aren’t just stealing checks from mailboxes anymore. A growing tactic is “check cooking,” where a thief snaps a photo of a check, then uses easy, off-the-shelf tools to alter the payee and amount. From there, they can deposit a counterfeit version through a mobile banking app—or even sell the stolen check details online.

How to Protect Yourself

Use credit cards or digital payments whenever you can. If you must send a paper check, avoid leaving it in your mailbox. Drop it directly at the post office (or inside a secure mail slot). Better yet, if the business is local, pay in person at the register.

Contact IT Radix today for more tips on staying safe online.

First published in our April 2026 IT Radix Resource newsletter