Three mail phishing incidents have been reported in the Summit Hill and Lansford areas over the last five weeks.

According to Summit Hill Police Chief Todd Woodward, the first report was on Sept. 22 located at the Lansford post office.

“It was a Summit Hill resident, but they deposited an envelope containing a check into the mail collection box in front of the Lansford post office,” Woodward said. “Their (check) was then taken out and altered.”

Woodward said two more mail thefts happened this month, with the most recent incident on Thursday, at the mail collection box in front of the Summit Hill post office.

“They later learned from their banks that thousands of dollars were missing from their accounts.

“The gentleman brought a copy of the check in yesterday, which has his signature on it, but the person who took it - it’s called washing a check. They eliminate the amount, the person payable to, and they change all of that to a fictitious person and they go and cash it.”

Woodward said after speaking with a postal inspector, it appears that the culprits are depositing the checks and cashing them on online apps.

An investigation has been launched.

“It’s a big ring, from what his investigation has learned so far, it’s based out of New York,” he said. “Our recommendation is to inform the public to deposit their mail, especially anything containing checks, into the drop off box located inside the post office.”