Check Fraud Surges Amid Declining Use | JQJO

Check fraud is rising even as the number of checks in circulation falls. In 2025, federal data shows Americans lost more money to check fraud than to debit card or gift card scams. Consumers write fewer checks, but the amounts are larger, and thieves know it. Criminals target mail‑delivered checks, stealing them from residential mailboxes or USPS drop boxes, then altering or forging them. Scott Anchin, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and policy at the Independent Community Bankers of America, warned that thieves are now organized gangs using advanced technology to alter checks. Joe Bernardo of Wells Fargo noted that the paper check has not evolved, leaving it vulnerable to exploitation. The Federal Reserve reports that by 2024, checks represented just 3% of all U.S. payments.