Greensboro educator nearly loses savings to check washing scam

A retired Greensboro educator who spent more than three decades teaching science nearly saw a small charity gift drain a big chunk of her savings. Verdie Kendall, a former principal now living on a fixed income, wrote a $40 check to the North Carolina Association of Educators, then later learned it had been altered and cashed for $2,310.

The loss was discovered by her son, Dwain Kendall, while he was reviewing bank statements. The family said the check had been hit by a classic fraud known as check washing, in which criminals use chemicals to remove ink, then rewrite the payee name and the dollar amount before cashing it. In Kendall’s case, the original donation to a statewide educators’ organization was turned into a withdrawal that nearly emptied her account.

That kind of fraud remains a real threat far beyond one Greensboro family. The United States Postal Inspection Service says check washing often starts with stolen mail and can involve checks pulled from mailboxes, washed in chemicals, and deposited after the payee and amount are changed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation warned in a Jan. 27, 2025 public service announcement that mail theft-related check fraud is on the rise and said criminals also use a more advanced digital tactic known as check cooking.

Kendall’s family initially hit a wall when Truist Bank declined to reimburse the money, saying the fraud claim had been filed too late. Truist says customers who notice suspicious activity should contact fraud specialists right away and file a new claim. After the family kept pressing the issue, Kendall said she received a call within days saying the funds would be returned.

The case lands hard in Guilford County because it involves an older resident relying on careful budgeting to protect retirement savings. The North Carolina Association of Educators says it is the state’s largest association of professional educators and serves members in all 100 counties, including teachers, school staff, administrators, students, retirees and community allies.

For residents who still write checks, the lesson is direct: collect mail quickly, avoid leaving envelopes exposed overnight, review statements line by line, and move fast if anything looks wrong. If a bank denies a fraud claim, ask for the denial in writing, file a new claim immediately, and keep escalating until someone reviews the altered check itself.