Choose Safer Ways to Pay Your Utility Bill

Writing paper checks can pose significant financial and security risks. Recent data shows that paper checks remain one of the most targeted payment methods for identity theft and fraud, driven heavily by mail theft and easy manipulation. Criminals favor paper checks because they’re easy to alter, forge, or counterfeit.

Facts About Check Fraud

• Banks reported a 10% increase in check fraud losses from 2023 to 2024, with checks accounting for about 30% of total payments fraud losses.
• Mail based check fraud doubled from 2021 to 2023, according to the FBI.
• USPS reported an 87% rise in high volume mail theft between 2019 and 2022.

Why This Matters

• Mailed checks can be stolen from residential mailboxes, collection boxes, and even USPS facilities.
• Paper checks can be altered by a method called "check washing", where chemicals are used to erase names and dollar amounts to allow new names and dollar amounts to be written in.
• Checks can clear and funds withdrawn from bank accounts before the account holder or bank realizes.

To reduce risk, switch to a safter payment method such as autopay, online bill pay, or pay by text. Sign up today through our secure online portal at  SantaBarbaraCA.gov/WaterSmart.