The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office is distributing free anti-fraud pens on Thursday to help residents protect their financial information from scams.

Staff members will be at a table inside the Mahoning County Administration Building, located at 21 West Boardman Street in downtown Youngstown. The event runs from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The office is offering pens to combat a crime known as check washing.

Check washing happens when criminals steal mail and use common household chemicals to erase the ink on a check. The scammers then write in a new name and a much higher dollar amount before cashing the check at an ATM or through a mobile app.

The special pens use pigment-based ink rather than standard dye. This type of ink soaks into the paper fibers, making it much harder for chemicals to remove the writing without damaging the check itself. While the prosecutor's office is giving them away for free this week, these pens are also widely available for purchase at most office supply and big-box stores.

Local leaders decided to hold the event after several reports of mail theft in the area. Federal authorities recently confirmed they are reviewing reports of altered checks mailed at a post office in Boardman. In one of those cases, a $300 check was changed to $3,700 after it was intercepted.

"We have been made aware of various check-washing incidents in Mahoning County," the prosecutor's office stated in a recent announcement. Officials said the pens are an easy way for people to safeguard their bank accounts.

Law enforcement experts also suggest that residents drop off mail containing checks inside a post office rather than using a curbside mailbox. Monitoring bank statements for suspicious activity is also recommended.

The pens at the administration building will be available while supplies last.