Long Island Woman Loses $20,000 to Checkwashing Scam

The Devastating Impact of Checkwashing

• 💔 Jean Gigglio, a senior citizen on Long Island, is out $20,000 due to a sophisticated checkwashing scam.
• 🎣 She mailed three checks from a mailbox outside the North Babylon post office, which were later stolen and altered.
• 💸 The scam involved erasing the payee's name with white-out and rewriting it to the fraudster, Jose Daggerbert Zuinga.

The Checkwashing Process and Its Prevalence

• ✉️ Postal investigators explained that thieves use wires to 'fish' mail out of mailboxes.
• 📝 Victims are forced to reissue checks, incurring late fees that cannot be waived due to state and county laws.
• 🗣️ A complaint filed at the post office revealed that mail theft and checkwashing are considered an "everyday occurrence".

Evolving Criminal Tactics and Prevention

• 🖨️ Criminals have evolved beyond simple pen alterations; checks can now be duplicated and printed.
• 💡 The best defenses recommended are to pay electronically or hand-deliver checks directly to a postal clerk.
• ⚠️ The Postal Inspection Service is actively working to combat mail theft nationwide.

Personal Toll and Financial Hardship

• 🏦 Jean is still awaiting a response from her bank's fraud department and feels "very, very victimized".
• 🎨 Since the scam began in May, Jean has turned to crafting to help make ends meet, stating, "There's no recouping it for me."