Check fraud (forgery, theft, washing and counterfeiting) can be a nightmare to clean up, but a few cautious steps can help protect your checks!
Safeguard your checks by following these simple guidelines:
Watch for “check washing”—Fraudsters use chemicals and solvents to erase or alter check information. Write your check using “fraud prevention pens,” which contain ink that is more difficult to change.
Vet anyone who enters your home—If you allow a housekeeper, contractor, or other service persons inside your home, run them through a background check to determine how trustworthy they may be. And keep important documents, including checks and bank statements, locked up.
No checks in cars—Never leave your checkbook out in public, and especially not stored in a car. It’s just too easy for fraud artists to break into the vehicle and steal your checks.
Avoid mailing checks from a mailbox—Thieves can steal checks from a mailbox. Always mail checks at the post office, if possible, or try to mail shortly before postal pickup.
No Social Security number or Driver's License—Never write your Social Security number on a check. It’s just too easy for check fraud artists to steal the check, get your Social Security number, and then commit identity theft.
Shred, shred shred—Shred mobile deposit checks, receipts, and account statements after you reconcile them.
Consider alternate methods of payment—Use a Debit Card with enhanced fraud protection or Digital Wallet which hides all your account information from the vendor and allows person-to-person transactions.
