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A12 BUSINESS
Wednesday 12 July 2023
Millennial Money: Stop using paper

checks, already

you are calling the correct
number for the utility or
medical provider.” q

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A man signs a check in Anchorage, Alaska, April 17, 2006.
Associated Press
By KATE ASHFORD of NerdWallet
Sure, you’re probably not using paper checks for most
things. But are you returning payments to medical pro-
viders and insurance companies in the mail? Paying by
check for the random parking ticket or your child’s piano
lessons? Now is a good time to stop: Check fraud tied to
mail theft is up nationwide, according to a February alert
from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. And let-
ter carrier robberies are also on the rise.
This is partially due to the effects of the pandemic, when
thieves targeted government relief checks in the mail.
“Fraudsters just went back to tried-and-true potential at-
tack factors that seemed to be working,” says Michael
Bruemmer, head of global data breach resolution for Ex-
perian.
The U.S. Postal Service is vulnerable, and thieves who can
access your checks can change the amount and ferret
those funds right out of your bank account. And then it
can take weeks to get the funds back.
“It’s absolutely a life disruption event when you mail a
check and it’s been intercepted,” says Mary Ann Miller,
fraud and cybercrime executive advisor and vice presi-
dent of client experience at consumer identity company
Prove. “That can take all the money out of your account
at once.”
USE PAYMENT ALTERNATIVES
Look for ways to pay your bills that don’t require using the
mail. Check your statement for online payment instruc-
tions, for example. “We are beginning to see more online
options,” Miller says. “In fact, some medical providers, like
One Medical, have a very nice option to pay from a mo-
bile app along with all of your medical information. I find
it super helpful and modern.” If you’re paying individuals,
ask if they’ll accept electronic payment through PayPal,
Venmo, Zelle or another cash app.
“There’s really no need to be writing checks today,”
Bruemmer says.
Working with a vendor that doesn’t offer an easy way
to pay online? Call and ask if you can pay over the
phone. “Paying by phone via the IVR — interactive voice
response — or a live customer service representative is
definitely a preferred option,” Miller says. “Just make sure