Suffolk County police are warning residents to protect their money and information following a rise in "check washing" scams

They say there have been over 40 cases of this since August in Huntington, Dix Hills and Melville.

Check washing refers to when a check is stolen out of the mail, the ink is removed or washed, the amount is changed and then the burglar cashes in the check.

Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison says most of the thefts are personal checks that people put in the mailbox outside their homes and are being taken right out of the box.

He says some of the other checks were dropped inside the blue post office boxes or a postal facility.

Police say one check originally written out for $100 was changed to $52,000 - and the name of the person the check was made out to was also changed.

The commissioner says there are more technologically advanced ways to protect yourself from these scams.

"Do not mail checks via the mailbox in front of your home, if possible, switch to online banking from a secure computer, pick up a new box of checks at your bank branch instead of shipping them to your home," Harrison says.

Police also recommend using indelible black gel ink instead of regular black or blue ink that can be easily washed away.

Officials also say to frequently check bank activity and mailboxes.