Georgia Man Accused of Rigging Mail Slots to Steal $150,000 in Checks

A Buford man has been charged with a sophisticated mail theft scheme after authorities allege he stole approximately $150,000 worth of checks from local residents and businesses. The accused, Xavier Jackson, is believed to have been operating for some time, targeting public mail collection boxes in the area, including a drive-through box behind the Oakwood Post Office. The case highlights a nationwide surge in mail-related financial fraud.

The method described by investigators points to what is often called “mailbox fishing.” This technique involves the criminal rigging a public mail collection box, typically by attaching a sticky substance to a string or other item, which is then lowered into the mail slot. When a piece of outgoing mail is dropped in, the adhesive snags the envelopes, allowing the thief to simply “fish” them out.

Once the checks are stolen, the operation moves into its second, equally cunning phase known as “check washing.” Fraudsters use common household chemicals to chemically erase the original payee’s name and the dollar amount. The goal is to leave the victim’s signature completely intact so the check can be rewritten to a new payee and for a significantly higher amount, often going undetected by banks until it is too late.

The allegations against Jackson paint a picture of an experienced operator. Authorities described him as a “veteran mail thief,” suggesting this was far from a one-time crime. His arrest comes amid an intense focus by law enforcement on these types of crimes, which are increasingly orchestrated by organized rings rather than petty thieves. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has escalated its efforts, recognizing that the desire to commit check fraud is the main engine behind this trend.

This type of theft is a massive problem for the country as a whole. According to recent data from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the volume of check fraud is spiking. Suspicious Activity Reports related to check fraud nearly doubled between 2021 and 2023. To combat this, the USPIS made 1,559 arrests of suspected mail thieves in fiscal year 2023 alone. Furthermore, high-volume mail theft incidents from blue collection boxes topped 38,500 in FY 2022 and over 25,000 just in the first half of FY 2023. Overall, the USPS intercepts an estimated one billion dollars in stolen checks and money orders every year, a startling figure that underscores the sheer scale of this criminal enterprise.

For Buford residents and businesses who may have used the compromised collection boxes, the message from law enforcement is clear: be vigilant. To protect yourself, the USPIS recommends never leaving mail in an outdoor blue collection box after the last pickup time or overnight. If possible, consider dropping off outgoing mail directly inside the post office lobby. For large payments, like paying rent or utilities, an even safer option is to use online payment methods or drop the mail off directly with a letter carrier. Finally, if you do write a check, always use a gel pen to make the “washing” process much more difficult for thieves.

Jackson now faces serious charges related to the alleged scheme, as federal and local authorities continue to piece together the full extent of the operation and identify all of the victims impacted by the $150,000 in stolen checks.