paper check proofreading

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Free Proofreading Checker Online

Get spelling, grammar, and stylistic corrections for your English text using Sapling's free proofreading checker .

AI-Powered Suggestions

Sapling was developed by researchers at the following institutions:

English Varieties

Need a different dialect or variety of English? Sapling supports the following through its integrations .

• American English
• British English
• Canadian English
• Australian English

Multilingual Proofreading Tool

안녕하세요. Bonjour. Salut. Yes, Sapling supports all these languages and more. Click on any of the options below.

Features & Benefits

Proof your writing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Catch typos and polish your writing. Use this page to proofread your text on your computer, tablet or mobile phone device. Beyond simple errors, Sapling will also help you keep your writing fluent, concise and idiomatic. Sapling's goal is to save you time on editing and proofreading your docuemnts and messaging.

Save Time Polishing Your Writing

Sapling runs almost everywhere you write. Instead of copy-editing and scanning for errors after finishing a piece of writing, use Sapling to instead get real-time suggestions as you write. Boost your productivity with Sapling by spending more time communicating and less time reviewing.

More Accurate and General Suggestions

Sapling's free grammar checker is an AI writing assistant that suggest edits from large neural network-based language models. These models effectively learn how language works from millions of example sentences. Sapling's AI accurately gives more suggestions than many other grammar checkers that rely on rule-based heuristics. See one comparison here .

Online Word Counter

This page will instantly count the number of words in your text. Use this to assess your words per minute (WPM) typing or writing rate. You can also obtain a word count from document or text editors like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Pages, under "Tools" → "Word Count".

Free Grammar Check Across Platforms

Those that want correct grammar can use Sapling to check grammar for free. The AI-powered writing assistant will act as a real-time instant proofreader, including for correcting punctuation such as missing commas. This is a tool to ensure that your communication is error-free and well-written. Sapling integrates with many platforms to ensure that you have a writing assistant at your disposal, whether you are working on an important email, presentation, or instant messaging support. We support all the internet platforms you write on: Gmail, LinkedIn, Salesforce, Zendesk, and hundreds of other sites.

Get your paper proofread by experts

Improve your paper with custom suggestions.

• Expert Check

Strengthen your writing

Give your paper an in-depth check. Receive feedback within 48 hours from writing experts on your paper's main idea, structure, conclusion, and more.

Find and fix grammar errors

Don't lose points over small mistakes. Our smart proofreader checks for grammar and writing mistakes so that you don't have to.

Check for unintentional plagiarism

Check your paper for unintentional plagiarism against thousands of sources.

What students are saying about us

"Caught comma errors that I actually struggle with even after proofreading myself."

- Natasha J.

"I find the suggestions to be extremely helpful especially as they can instantly take you to that section in your paper for you to fix any and all issues related to the grammar or spelling error(s)."

- Catherine R.

Clean up your writing and fix mistakes with EasyBib online proofreading tools

It doesn’t matter if you’re a writing superstar or a beginner learning the basics—everyone can benefit from good proofreading.

• Begin by uploading your paper to the proofreading tool to start an automatic scan for spelling and grammatical errors you may have missed. You’ll also receive suggestions to help streamline your writing.
• For important papers that need extra attention, submit your drafts to Expert Check for personalized feedback from a writing expert.
• Finally, try the automatic plagiarism check for help with catching missing citations and accidental plagiarism.

Using these online proofreading services can help you build your best paper possible.

What do online proofreading tools do? 

Simple  online spell checkers only search for basic mistakes. Online proofreading tools go further. An initial EasyBib proofreading scan can catch complex errors like:

• Subject-verb disagreement
• Punctuation errors
• Sentence fragments
• Missing commas
• Run-on sentences
• Misused pronouns
• Word choice errors

Once your proofreading scan is complete, you review each card to see what error was found, an explanation of why it was flagged, and suggestions on how to correct it. This helps ensure that you understand and learn from the suggestion as you edit and improve your paper .

Custom feedback from experts 

Online tools are a great resource, but they can’t do it all. English is a tricky language, and sometimes, these tools can’t give you all the answers you need. To provide the specific feedback you need in those cases, there’s Expert Check from EasyBib Plus.

Expert Check provides a personalized, in-depth review of your writing by a live, professional proofreader. You can submit a paper at any time to receive detailed feedback on elements like:

• Development
• Organization
• …and other components

You’ll be given scores on these different elements, explanations of what was great, and suggestions on how to revise any areas that could be improved. It only takes  48 hours to submit a paper and receive a detailed proofreading report.  An EasyBib Plus subscription includes up to 15 Expert Checks each month.

Using Expert Check and the automatic EasyBib proofreading tool can save you time and help you turn in your best paper!

Why should I get my paper proofread? 

People may overlook an occasional typo or grammatical error in a casual text or email, but in academic writing, the standards are much higher. Small mistakes can affect your academic career in a big way.

College instructors expect your work to be clear, concise, and technically correct. That’s why proofreading is so important.

• Unclear, poorly written work sends a message that you aren’t giving your classwork your best effort.
• Technical errors can even send the message that you’re not ready for college-level work.
• Work that is perceived as rough will likely get low marks, affecting your class grade.

As a result, bad writing can cause your grades and your academic reputation to suffer. If you’re hoping for internships, mentorships, or letters of recommendation, turning in poorly done work can lead to losing out on valuable opportunities.

There’s no doubt that papers take a lot of effort to write. A stellar essay requires a plan, an outline, and research. No wonder so many of us feel burned out when a first draft is finished. It’s tempting to immediately submit an essay as soon as it’s finished so you can forget about it. However, taking a moment to do some proofreading can be a literal grade saver.

Luckily, you can do an online check of your paper using EasyBib proofreading tools.

Why use EasyBib online proofreading tools? 

Having a resource such as the EasyBib proofreading tool is like having a personal tutor you can carry in your pocket. It’s available to help with checking your paper any time of the day or night.

It will also give you honest, helpful feedback without any judgement. Best of all, you can rely on EasyBib proofreading tools over and over again—there’s no limit to how many papers or revised drafts you submit.

Here’s a summary of everything EasyBib proofreading tools can do:

• Look for 400+ of the most common grammatical errors.
• Check your paper day or night.
• Allow you to upload an unlimited number of papers.
• Look beyond typos to find ways to improve your paper’s writing flow and style.
• Provide feedback that is judgement free.

Help! It’s not just proofreading, I’m also terrible at citing sources.

If you struggle with citations, you’re not alone. Citing sources is often students’ least favorite task. But, failing to cite your sources properly can damage your paper’s credibility. It can even lead to getting your essay flagged for plagiarism.

The EasyBib proofreading tool also has an option to  scan your paper for unintentional plagiarism . If there is duplicate text online, the tool points it out for you to rewrite or to cite it as a direct quote. There are also EasyBib citation tools that can help you create in-text citations and build your reference or works cited page.

I’m a student on a budget. I can’t afford a personal tutor or private proofreader. What are my options? 

If you need a final proofread before you submit your essay but don’t want to look through a freelance marketplace, a subscription to EasyBib Plus can help. It’s free to upload a paper to the online proofreading tool, and the first five suggested grammar corrections are available for free.

EasyBib Plus also offers  online plagiarism scans and Expert Check proofreading by a professional proofreader. In summary, a subscription to EasyBib Plus unlocks a full suite of proofreading tools to help you turn in an error-free paper every time. You can sign up for a free 3-day trial or enroll in a low-cost monthly subscription. *

*See Terms and Conditions

What’s the bottom line when it comes to proofreading? 

Proofreading is an important part of the writing process. Spelling and grammatical errors can tank your grade and put your GPA at risk. Unintentional plagiarism can destroy your academic career. Don’t let it happen to you!

Using online proofreading ensures that your work gets an assessment that strengthens your writing and makes it shine. EasyBib proofreading tools help you turn in your best work. Sign up online for a free three-day proofreading trial today! *

Visit www.easybib.com for more information on helpful EasyBib writing and citing tools.

For informational guides and on writing and citing, visit the EasyBib guides homepage .

Free online proofreading and essay editor

A reliable proofreading tool and essay editor for any writer or student, a complete environment.

Typely is more than just a proofreading tool. It's a complete writing environment.

Thousands of checks

More than a thousand checks are being performed and we've only scratched the surface.

Inspired by the greatest writers

Gain access to humanity’s collective understanding about the craft of writing.

A proofreading tool that does not bark at every tree

Typely is precise. Existing tools for proofreading raise so many false alarms that their advice cannot be trusted. Instead, the writer must carefully consider whether to accept or reject each change.

We aim for a tool so precise that it becomes possible to unquestioningly adopt its recommendations and still come out ahead — with stronger, tighter prose. Better to be quiet and authoritative than loud and unreliable.

Relax, focus, write your next masterpiece...

Writing presumes more than simply laying out words on a paper. Typely helps you get in the mood and keeps you focused, immersed and ready to write your story.

Whether you need a distraction-free environment, some chill relaxing sounds or a pomodoro timer to manage your time we got you covered.

Got questions? We have answers.

No. Typely is completely free and we plan on keeping it that way. We are considering some advanced features however that might be available under a premium plan.

The only limit we have applied thus far is on the number of characters you can submit and that is being set at a maximum of 50,000.

In theory yes but that will require a lot of work and professionals dedicated for this job. We are considering a way of letting the community participate somehow.

Typely does not do grammar checking because it's hard and almost impossible to get right. The aim for Typely is to be precise and reliable.

Free Grammar Checker

Try our other writing services

Correct your document within 5 minutes

• Proofread on 100+ language issues
• Specialized in academic texts
• Corrections directly in your document

Instantly correct your entire document in minutes

Why this is the best free grammar checker.

Most accurate

In the test for the best grammar checker , Scribbr found 19 out of 20 errors.

No signup needed

You don’t have to register or sign up. Insert your text and get started right away.

Long texts, short texts it doesn’t matter – there’s no character or word limit.

Don’t wait for ads or distractions. The grammar checker is ad-free!

Correct all your writing errors

Enhance your writing with Scribbr’s free Grammar Checker. We can help you to avoid mistakes with:

• Punctuation
• Word choice
• And more— try it yourself !

We are also happy to provide personalized help with our professional proofreading service .

Correct your grammar

Improve your writing and grammar with just one click.

The Scribbr Grammar Checker fixes grammatical errors like:

• Sentence fragments & run-on sentences
• Subject-verb agreement errors
• Issues with parallelism

Spell-check on steroids

Spelling may seem straightforward, but basic spell-checks often don’t recognize many specialist terms you might use in your writing, incorrectly marking them as mistakes.

Scribbr has a large dictionary of recognized words, so you can feel confident every word is 100% correct.

Check your punctuation

Our Grammar Checker takes away all your punctuation worries. Avoid common mistakes with:

• Dashes and hyphens
• Apostrophes

Avoid word choice errors

Should you use “affect” or “effect” ? Is it “then” or “than” ? Did you mean “there,” “their,” or “they’re” ?

Never worry about embarrassing word choice errors again. Our grammar checker will spot and correct any errors with commonly confused words .

Correct your entire document in 5 minutes

Would you like to upload your entire document and check all your documents for 100+ language issues? Then Scribbr’s AI-powered proofreading is perfect for you.

With AI-powered proofreading, you can correct your text in no time:

• Upload document
• Wait briefly while all errors are corrected directly in your document
• Correct errors with one click

Proofread my document

Improve your text with one click

The Scribbr Grammar Checker allows you to accept all suggestions in your document with a single click.

Give it a try!

A Grammar Checker for all English variants

There are important differences between the versions of English used in different parts of the world, including UK and US English . Our grammar checker supports a variety of major English dialects:

• Canadian English
• Australian English

Why users love our Grammar Checker

Save time and upload your entire document to fix it in minutes, ask our team.

Want to contact us directly? No problem.  We  are always here for you.

• Email [email protected]
• Start live chat
• Call +1 (510) 822-8066
• WhatsApp +31 20 261 6040

Frequently asked questions

The Scribbr Grammar Checker is a tailor-made AI-powered tool that can correct basic language, grammar, style, and spelling errors. We run it so that our editors are free to focus on what they do best: making sure that your paper is free of more nuanced mistakes and providing you with helpful feedback and writing tips.

The Scribbr Grammar Checker is a pro at correcting basic mistakes – and a human editor will still be carefully reviewing your full text – so you can rest assured that your paper is in very good hands!

When you receive back a document that has been reviewed by the Scribbr Grammar Checker, you’ll see two sets of tracked changes in it: one set from the grammar checker and one set from your editor. That way, you can easily tell who made what changes in your paper.

Not sure how tracked changes work in Word or how to review your edited file? Read our handy guide to learn more.

We tested ten of the most popular free grammar checkers to see how many errors they could fix in our sample text and deducted points for any new errors introduced. We also evaluated the tools’ usability.

When compared all the other grammar checkers we tested for this comparison and Scribbr performed exceptionally well. It was successful in detecting and correcting 19 of the 20 errors. See the full review here .

If our grammar checker flags an error that is not actually an error, you have several options:

1. Ignore the error: Most grammar checkers allow users to skip or ignore suggestions they do not agree with or find irrelevant. If you are confident that the flagged “error” is not an issue, you can bypass the suggestion and move on to the next one.

2. Review the context: Take a moment to thoroughly review the context surrounding the flagged error. Sometimes, the initial correct usage might still create confusion or ambiguity within the specific context, and reconsidering the phrasing could improve overall clarity.

Yes, this grammar checker covers the following mistakes:

1. Grammar: Correction of grammatical errors such as subject-verb agreement, tense usage, and sentence structure

2. Spelling: identification and correction of spelling errors, including typos and commonly confused words.

3. Punctuation: Detection and rectification of punctuation errors, including incorrect use of commas, periods, colons, and other punctuation.

4. Word choice errors: Catch words that sound similar but aren’t, like their vs. they’re and your vs. you’re.

Yes. There’s no sign up or payment required to use the grammar checker.

Yes. The grammar checker fixes any text, no matter what the medium is.

The Scribbr grammar checker finds more errors than many other tools and is particularly user-friendly:

• Winner: In our test comparison, the Scribbr grammar checker found 19 out of 20 errors, putting it in first place.
• No registration required: You don’t need an account to use the grammar checker.
• No limits: There is no character or word limit.
• Ad-free: There is no advertising on Scribbr to distract from the tool.

For more details, feel free to read our test of the best English grammar checkers.

General Inquiries

Does papercheck write papers or plagiarize written work submitted to your editors we do not want our work recycled to other clients..

No, we are not in the business of writing academic papers, business documents, or website content, and we do not recycle our clients’ written work. Documents travel over our encrypted network and are destroyed after 30 days in our queue to ensure the privacy and security of our clients.

Is my document available for anyone else to use?

Only Papercheck editors have access to your document. Papercheck guarantees the security of your document and payment. Papercheck has a VeriSign Secure Server ID, and all documents and payments are sent over a Secured Socket Layer, protecting you against third-party disclosure. Documents travel over our encrypted network and are destroyed after 30 days in our queue to ensure your privacy and security.

What is grammar editing?

Papercheck provides much more than a simple grammar check. We know that our job also involves methodically reading each document to determine whether the thesis statement is clear and concise, whether the body of the document addresses the issue or problem that has been presented, and whether the conclusion logically flows from the information that appears in the body of the document. This surpasses a mere grammar check and improves the quality and coherence of the document.

Papercheck provides academic editing , which includes the correction of punctuation, verb tense, spelling, and sentence structure. The document body and thesis statement are proofread for accuracy and clarity. You can choose to have your work edited according to MLA , APA , Chicago , CSE , Turabian , ASA , AMA , and AP .

How quickly can I have my document edited?

You may select the Rapid Return option and have your document edited in 3 hours or less. There is a 10-page, 3,000-word maximum for this request. If you have more than 10 pages, you may want to select the 6-hour option.

I need to have my dissertation proofread. It is biblical and theological writing. Your advertisement doesn’t tell me where I should go to get started.

We have edited several dissertations on just about every subject. To get started, you must first register with Papercheck. Once you register, you will need to log in using your user name and password. You can log in from any page on our website by clicking on Login . Click on Submit Document and follow the instructions on How do I submit a document ?

Who uses your services?

We edit documents for both academic and business clients. Businesses use our highly qualified proofreaders to edit emails and other outgoing correspondence. Papercheck’s business editing services are available for websites, emails, memos, proposals, grants, sales contracts, brochures, and other formal business documents.

Papercheck helps academic clients produce their best written work while teaching them how to convey ideas succinctly. Papercheck’s professional editors proofread dissertations, master’s theses, term papers, and admissions essays.

How do I get rid of highlighting?

Please visit our Microsoft Track Changes tutorials. Select the correct version and follow the provided instructions.

• 2003 Microsoft Word Remove Editor Comments
• 2007 Microsoft Word Remove Editor Comments
• 2007 Microsoft Word Track Changes Instructions
• 2010 Microsoft Word Remove Editor Comments
• 2010 Microsoft Word Track Changes Instructions
• 2011 Microsoft Word Remove Editor Comments (Mac)
• 2011 Microsoft Word Track Changes Instructions (Mac)
• 2013 Microsoft Word Simple Markup
• 2016 Microsoft Word Remove Editor Comments
• 2016 Microsoft Word Track Changes Instructions
• How to Track Changes in Microsoft Word 2003
• Proofreading with Track Changes — YouTube Tutorial

Can I track how much time is remaining until my document has been edited?

Log in to your account from any Web page and click on the My Document link. If your document has been edited, you can download it from this Web page by clicking on the Pick Up Document button. If you do not see this button, you can track the remaining hours until completion.

You will receive an email when your document has been completed. You may also enable SMS Notification for $1.00. If SMS Notification has been enabled, you will receive an SMS Notification to your mobile phone once your document has been edited.

How do I submit a document?

The first step you must take is to register with Papercheck at https://login.papercheck.com/signup.asp . Once you register, you can log into your account from any Web page.

Step 1: Click on the Submit Document link and answer the following questions:

• English Type *
• Page Count *
• Word Count *
• Service Level *
• Enable PaperTomb (Optional)
• Contact Email *
• SMS Notification (Optional)
• Writing Style * (APA, ASA, AMA, Chicago, CSE, Turabian, AP, or MLA)
• Document Description *
• Document Format *
• Priority & Turnaround Time *
• Click Submit *
• Click + Select File…
• Click Start upload
• Select a payment method

Once your order is placed, you will receive an email confirmation and a Document ID .

Scholarship Questions

Am i eligible for the charles shafaé scholarship if i am in high school or if i am beginning my freshman year of college this fall.

You are not eligible if you are currently enrolled in high school. Only students enrolled at accredited four-year universities are eligible to apply. You must be a full-time student attending classes at your chosen university.

Where can I find information on scholarships provided by Papercheck?

Please go to the scholarship page . If the information on the scholarship page does not answer your question, email [email protected] . A new scholarship is available every year.

Am I eligible for your scholarship if I am attending a junior or community college?

No, the scholarship is available only to students who are enrolled in and attending classes at four-year accredited universities.

Support Questions

What are your hours of operation.

Papercheck offers live customer support 12 hours a day, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Documents will be edited in real time (not business hours) and returned within your selected turnaround time: 72, 48, 24, 10, 6, or 3 hours.

What is live support?

To ensure superior customer service, Papercheck provides live support to all visitors to our website via telephone, email, and LiveChat. Live customer support is available 24 hours per day Monday–Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, live customer support is offered between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

I have a suggestion or question that is not answered in the FAQ. How do I get in contact with Papercheck?

You can send an email through our support system by filling out a form at customer support or contact us via LiveChat on the bottom right of our website. Telephone support is available: call toll-free at (866) 693-3348 .

Why can’t I pick up my document?

There are several possible causes for this issue, so the best way to answer this question is to contact customer support. Papercheck customer support is available 24 hours per day Monday–Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, live customer support is offered between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Reasons Your Document May Not Be Available:

• The order is still in process.
• The order was not completed; make sure you have your Document ID before contacting Papercheck.
• The document has expired. All documents are deleted after 30 days unless the order has PaperTomb enabled.

Billing Questions

Why is my estimate different from the amount i was charged.

Clients are charged by the word. Estimates are based on the number of words at the time of submittal. The actual amount charged is based on the number of words, as verified by the editor. If you have any other questions, please email us or call our toll-free number at (866) 693-3348 .

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Prior to submitting your document for editing, you must register with Papercheck at:  https://login.papercheck.com/signup.asp

You must include your payment or PayPal information, or you will not be allowed to submit your document for editing. You will not be charged until your document has been returned. When you submit a document, our credit card processor will run an authorization to ensure that we will receive payment. This is not a charge to your account. When the editor returns the document, our credit card processor runs a delayed capture and charges the authorized amount.

If you use a debit card, monies will be withdrawn from your account upon authorization and again during delayed capture. Monies will be returned in 7 days. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to avoid this procedure. We therefore recommend that you use a credit card when accessing Papercheck services. If you have further problems with the registration process, please call our toll-free number at (866) 693-3348 .

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You will not be charged until your document has been returned. When you submit a document, our credit card processor will run an authorization to ensure that we will receive payment. This is not a charge to your account. When the editor returns the document, our credit card processor runs a delayed capture, and charges the authorized amount.

If you use a debit card, monies will be withdrawn from your account upon authorization and again during delayed capture. Monies will be returned in 7 days. Unfortunately, there is nothing that we can do to avoid this procedure. We therefore recommend that you use a credit card or PayPal when accessing Papercheck services. If you have further problems with the registration process, please call our toll free number at (866) 693-3348 .

Should you stop writing checks? Banks wish you would to thwart fraud

A big banking industry group, not surprisingly perhaps, suggests that consumers stop writing paper checks to stamp out the proliferation of check washing scams. Stop writing checks?

It's seriously one of the suggestions now that check fraud has exploded by 385% since the pandemic, according to U.S. Treasury Department data. Banks are forced to spend more to beef up their technology to prevent criminal check fraud, and, even then, plenty of fake checks continue to get cashed.

It's a massive headache for bankers, the U.S. Postal Service, and consumers who become victims of crooks and loopholes in a regulatory system that can work against them.

The stolen check can be washed clean of the original ink with household chemicals. Criminals may replace the "payee" and often the dollar amount to fuel the fraud. And fraudsters can copy and print multiple washed checks for future use or to sell to other criminals.

The $150 check you wrote could end up being written by crooks for several hundred dollars or more. If the fraud isn't spotted, the money ends up with the criminals. But your bill won't get paid. Your signature remains in place so it looks like you wrote the check.

Worse yet, you're going to have to undergo an investigation with the bank to get your money back. Consumers report waiting months or even years to get thousands of dollars back. Some do not get any money back.

We never had to go to such lengths to analyze if we should or shouldn't write a check. But high-profile cases — such as a crackdown on a massive mail fraud ring that targeted high-end neighborhoods in Oakland County to steal checks, credit cards and personal information from mailboxes from late 2018 through at least March 2019 — make it clear that check writing cannot be treated casually.

During tax season, many people will be writing checks to pay their income taxes. Yet, should you really do that? Might be better to pay taxes through an electronic funds withdrawal and have money taken out your bank account.

Consumer protections aren't strong

A Los Angeles consumer had written a $21,000 check to pay his federal taxes in 2021, sent the check by mail, and later discovered that the check was stolen, signed by someone else and deposited into a different account at another bank, not the U.S. Treasury, according to a KCAL-TV news report last April.

But the consumer's bank would not credit his account until the bank that accepted the fake check reimbursed the victim's bank. It took two years for the consumer to get several thousand dollars back.

Checks are largely governed by state law through the Uniform Commercial Code, which gives consumers up to a year to inform their bank of a fraudulent or altered check.

But — and pay attention here — banks can and do shorten the time for notification as part of their account agreements, according to Carla Sanchez-Adams, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.

Many banks, she said, limit the time to somewhere between 14 days and 30 days. Check your account agreement.

"It's incredibly difficult," Sanchez-Adams said.

More: It’s hard to reverse scams on peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, PayPal, Zelle

Sometimes, it's hard to spot the fraud. Criminals do not always change the amount on the check. You might see that an $800 check was cashed to cover your rent and not realize that someone else cashed that check.

In testimony before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in February, Sanchez-Adams said one consumer told the National Consumer Law Center that "he had no idea his check had been altered until his landlord — a family friend — eventually told him months later that he had not received the rent."

Many consumers have not received paper copies of their checks for years. And more changes are ahead for many.

Bank of America, for example, told customers that starting May 17, its statements sent in the mail will no longer include images of canceled checks. Such images can be viewed online, and copies are available by request for free.

Sanchez-Adams said she personally doesn't use checks, unless she's able to hand them to someone, given the efforts by criminal activity. She treats a check like cash. "Would you send cash in the mail?" she asks.

How check fraud works today

When it comes to check fraud, criminals often fish out mail from blue U.S. postal boxes, rob carriers at gunpoint, and even try to bribe postal workers to get their hands on master keys that can be sold on the dark web for thousands of dollars and later used to open collection boxes.

Sure, crooks will steal cash or gift cards that people send in the mail, too. But they can steal even more money by getting their hands on paper checks.

Some stolen checks end up being sold online to other crooks. Many times, people can be recruited by criminals to cash the phony checks for them, often using fake IDs, or encouraged to open accounts that can be used to cash altered checks.

Criminals also aim to steal "personal checks, business checks, tax refund checks, and checks related to government assistance programs, such as Social Security payments and unemployment benefits," according to a 2023 alert by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

The alert noted: "Business checks may be more valuable because business accounts are often well-funded and it may take longer for the victim to notice the fraud."

Consumers reported losing $209 million in 2023 to fraud involving checks, which is close to the $210 million reported lost to fraud involving payment apps, according to data from the latest Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book. The network is managed by the Federal Trade Commission but compiles consumer complaints from a variety of sources. Only 8,603 complaints involving check fraud were made to the various agencies. By contrast, 63,305 complaints were made involving payment apps.

But the losses are far deeper than those reports. The Treasury Department announced in February that it had recovered more than $375 million after implementing enhanced fraud detection using artificial intelligence at the beginning of fiscal year 2023.

More: Phony postage stamp discounts are scamming online buyers: What to know

Who writes checks anymore?

Many people already are paying their bills online, using direct pay, or using mobile apps, not writing checks. Even so, nearly 13 million checks are still being written each day, according to banking industry data.

"There's no way to stop check fraud without stopping checks at some point," said Paul Benda, executive vice president of risk, fraud and cybersecurity at the American Bankers Association at a banking industry conference in Washington, D.C., on March 20.

He called check fraud "a pain point for the industry."

In March, the American Bankers Association and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service joined forces in an educational campaign to combat the "rapid rise in check fraud."

Pandemic 'turbocharged' financial crimes

But why now? Check fraud isn't new. Street gangs ramped up some white collar crimes, such as check fraud and credit card fraud, more than 25 years ago, thanks to home computers and other technology. So why the dramatic uptick since the pandemic?

"If you look in general, it seems like the pandemic really turbocharged fraud," Benda told me in a phone interview. "We can't necessarily say why."

He pointed to the success that crooks had making fraudulent claims for generous unemployment insurance benefits during the pandemic. The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated that fraud accounted for anywhere from 11% to 15% of the total amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid nationwide during the pandemic. The dollars lost, according to the GAO report issued in September 2023, were likely "between $100 billion and $135 billion."

"I think there were a lot of first-time fraudsters," Benda said, "that were able to file a claim and didn't get caught."

It seems like, he said, criminal gangs have "industrialized fraud."

Checks, he said, aren't a form of payment that banks really like, Benda said. "Electronic payments are faster and more secure."

How do you protect yourself from check washing scams

Many banks, Benda said, are encouraging customers to stop using checks and move more toward electronic payments. Banks have hired more staff, he said, to review checks on the same day they come in to look for altered checks. Tellers are trained to look for phony checks and fake IDs. But it's a constant battle and costly proposition.

If you're still using checks, you're encouraged to do such things as use a gel pen or pens with indelible black ink so it is more difficult for a criminal to wash your checks. Other tips include:

• Don't mail a bill with a check from a mailbox. If possible, instead go inside the post office to drop off a bill. Never leave mail in your own mailbox overnight.
• Call to make sure the check was received by a business, charity or family member. Contact the bank immediately if you spot a problem.
• Pay attention to who cashes the check. Some scammers don't change the amount on the check but will change the payee.
• Don’t write your Social Security number, credit card information, driver’s license number or phone number on checks.
• Report stolen mail as soon as possible by submitting an online complaint to the Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or calling 877-876-2455.
• Consumers are asked to report crimes or call 911 when they suspect that someone might be trying to rob a mail carrier.

How Postal Service is cracking down on crimes

In May 2023, the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service launched the Project Safe Deliver y campaign to reduce mail theft and better protect postal employees.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service now is offering rewards of up to $150,000 now, up from $50,000 in the past, for information leading to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those rob letter carriers.

Individuals who are convicted of mail theft can face up to five years in prison, possession of postal keys up to 10 years in prison and those who rob letter carriers can face up to 25 years in prison, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

In the Oakland County mail theft and identity theft case, four men were sentenced — Deavon Allen, Cole Patrick Castelow, Malik Frazier and Ronald Reese — by U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in 2023 and 2024. Sentences were: Castelow, 72 months in prison; Frazier, 51 months; Allen, 27 months, and Reese, 18 months. Restitution was ordered, joint and several with the co-defendants in the case, in the total amount of $141,419.21.

Michael Martel, postal inspector and public information officer for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said much is being done to frustrate criminals by making it harder for them to gain access to the mail in traditional mailboxes.

So far, the Postal Service has replaced more than 15,000 blue boxes in key areas with a new high-security blue collection box. The outside is similar but the inside has enhanced security features. The post office also has already replaced 28,000 antiquated arrow locks with electronic mechanisms that can better ensure the safety of the mail after a robbery. The key alone, Martel said, won't give someone access to the mail in these cases.

Martel said criminal groups "are increasingly organized. We're seeing multiple robberies committed by the same parties."

More: Fraud and scams cost consumers a record $10 billion in 2023, according to FTC

Martel said the goal of the Postal Service is to make the mail stream safe, not necessarily discouraging consumers from using checks. "We always advise customers to never send cash," he said.

Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompor:  [email protected] . Follow her on X (Twitter)  @ tompor .