On February 23, 2026, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office received a report of forgery from an elderly resident of Verdigre, Nebraska. The victim advised that he received an alert from his bank, Midwest Bank, regarding a large-dollar-amount check being presented for payment that he did not write. An investigation revealed that the victim had mailed a utility payment check in the amount of just over $200. Before reaching the utility company in Illinois, the check was intercepted and altered to an amount of just over $2,400. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is currently working with Midwest Bank in Creighton and the United States Postal Inspection Service on this ongoing investigation. The Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to monitor their bank accounts regularly and to report any suspicious activity to their financial institution immediately.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office would like to make residents aware of an increase in mail theft and “check washing” incidents occurring across the region. Criminals are stealing checks from mailboxes and altering them using chemicals to remove the original ink. They then rewrite the check for a much larger amount and attempt to cash or deposit it before fraud is detected.
To protect yourself:
- Avoid leaving outgoing mail in your mailbox overnight.
- Consider taking mail directly inside the post office for mailing.
- Use black gel ink pens when writing checks, as they are more difficult to alter.
- Monitor your bank account regularly for unauthorized transactions.
- Report suspicious activity immediately to your bank and local law enforcement.
If you believe you have been a victim of mail theft or check fraud, contact the Knox County Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agency right away.
