A Bay Shore business owner said he lost $2,600 after checks mailed were fished, whitewashed and cashed.

The man said he placed them in the outdoor mailbox at the Bay Shore Post Office on Bay Shore Avenue two weeks ago.

Police confirm they are investigating after the checks were pulled from the mailbox and falsely cashed.

A DOJ and FBI report from earlier this year fond that check fraud is on the rise and the significant amount is done through the mail.

A USPS spokesperson says “The postal inspection service takes matters involving mail theft as one of their top priorities. We are working diligently with our local law enforcement partners on reports of mail thefts throughout Long Island.”