‘It’s not fair’: These Atlanta seniors say they paid their rent, but the checks just disappeared from the leasing office. What to do if your payments fall into the wrong hands

“It’s not fair,” said one renter, who spoke to Channel 2 Action News anonymously for fear of retaliation. “I’m worried about where my information is, and they don’t know where the check is.”

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), from February to August last year, it received 15,417 reports from 841 financial institutions on mail theft-related check fraud, amounting to more than $688 million in reported suspicious activity. After checks were stolen from the U.S. Mail, 44% were altered and then deposited, 26% were used as templates to create counterfeit checks, and 20% were fraudulently signed and deposited.

What can happen next?

In most cases, money orders that haven’t been cashed can be canceled easily if you retain the receipt. Things may be more complicated if the money order was stolen and cashed but there are steps you can take with the issuer and law enforcement to retrieve your funds.

Others tenants who used personal checks report being charged fees by their banks to cancel them. Most banks charge around $30 to stop a check. If you don't contact your bank in time to stop the payment and thieves have your check, they may attempt to use chemicals to alter its information and cash it. Monitor your bank account carefully and if you notice the check has been cashed, you should immediately report it to the bank and police. There is also a danger of criminals using the information on your checks to steal your identity or create counterfeit checks, so you may have to freeze your bank account.

How seniors can protect themselves

There are several steps renters can take to be proactive in case something like this happens to them. Always keep a close eye on your bank account statements. Make sure to document and save everything, including when you pay rent, rent receipts, written or canceled checks, and money order receipts. This information can help cancel payments or support a legal claim.

Some ways to protect yourself from check fraud include using a black gel pen, never sharing bank information publicly, and using paper checks only when there's no alternative.

In case of problems related to rent payments, you can also consider contacting your local consumer protection or tenant advocacy group. Many organizations, including the Housing Justice League, offer assistance to low-income renters, including guidance and legal support.