DO NOT Send Checks in the Mail Anymore in Michigan

It feels like it's pretty rare that we have to bust out our checkbooks in 2024, but there are a few times we still need them. Maybe that's how you pay rent/bills, or you're trying to send a little money to a loved one.

But, unless you plan to hand that check directly to the person you're mailing it to- you're still putting yourself at risk. Experts have been warning us for almost a year that it's not a great idea to send money in the mail.

Why should you never mail a check in Michigan?

Not that it's surprising, but crooks are pretty savvy about people still sending checks through the mail. Believe it or not, folks still use snail mail for gifting or paying bills. So, back in May 2023, the United States Postal Service (USPS) and its trusty partner, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), joined forces for a project dubbed "Project Safe Delivery."

Read More: Stay Safe: FBI Warns Of Risks At Public Phone Charging Stations

They noticed a troubling trend - more mailboxes getting hit by thieves and more letter carriers getting robbed while on their routes. Despite this initiative, the Associated Press shared a troubling fact that the number of carriers getting robbed while they're out on the job jumped up by over 30% in 2023, hitting a whopping 643 cases.

Experts say if you absolutely have to mail a check (which obviously isn't ideal) you should take it directly to the post office and mail it from there. That way, you have less of a chance of someone going through your mailbox and stealing it before it goes to it's final destination.

However, it's still not a guarantee that you won't get scammed. So, be careful if you do decide to do this in spite of all of the warnings.