Fraud Alert
FRAUD ALERT UPDATE: Tax payment checks can be STOLEN from the mailstream.
The Town of East Hartford Tax Collector’s office, and East Hartford taxpayers, have experienced situations where taxpayers have mailed checks to pay their property taxes, but the tax collector’s office never receives their checks. The checks are stolen from the mail stream and cashed by fraudsters. Taxpayers ultimately become aware that their checks were not timely received by the Town, and reach out to the tax collector’s office expecting to be able to pay without interest.
Taxpayers should be aware that interest is charged on late payments regardless of the reason. Even if a taxpayer is victim to this type of mail fraud, the tax collector does not have the authority to accept their payment without interest Connecticut General Statute Sec. 12-146 . Furthermore, there is no other official at Town Hall, or at the State, with this authority. The Connecticut Tax Collectors' Association has for the last several years proposed changing the law in Connecticut to allow victims of this type of fraud to have their late payment interest waived in cases where the fraud can be documented, but to date, the law has not been changed.
Many taxpayers are choosing to pay online using an E Check (ACH payment) as a way to avoid the risks involved in writing paper checks.
Below are links to articles concerning check washing and mail fraud.
Check Washing – United States Postal Inspection Service (uspis.gov)
Check fraud is on the rise. Here's what you need to know and how to avoid it : NPR
Check Fraud Is on the Rise. Here’s What You Can Do to Prevent It. - The New York Times
(nytimes.com)
6 Steps You Should Take to Stop Check Washing (aarp.org)