SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Several Lakewood Ranch residents say they have been victimized by check washing, a scheme in which thieves use chemicals to remove ink from a written check, then rewrite it for a different amount or to a different payee before cashing it.
ABC7 has been following the story since early February, and victims continue to come forward.
Michael Joyce, executive managing director at a wealth management company, said the scheme is not new but cases appear to be increasing. He said criminals are using newer technology to make altered checks harder to detect…