Check fraud costs individuals, businesses and financial institutions as much as $50 billion annually, according to a recent estimate. Forged checks have always been a problem. However, inexpensive laser printers and check quality paper that is easily accessible makes check fraud more of a problem today than ever before.
At the same time, checks continue to be the preferred payment method at many businesses in North America.
When your company accepts checks, a little knowledge of the payment system and a good eye can help you distinguish many of the good drafts from the bad ones.
Look for Alterations
Checks contain a nine digit routing number in the bottom left-hand corner. The first two digits indicate the Federal Reserve Bank that will handle the check. One favorite trick of forgers is to change the routing number, often substituting a West Coast Federal Reserve Bank number for an East Coast one. That way, the check needs additional time to cross the country before the crime is discovered. It also gives the forger time to flee.
By knowing the routing number of your closest Federal Reserve Bank, you can quickly tell if there’s a problem with the number on a “local” check.
If the routing number appears to be altered, there’s a good chance the check is bad. A quick scan can also tell if there is discoloration, which is an indication of check alteration.
Another sign of a potentially fraudulent check: No perforated edge on one side. The perforation allows users to rip drafts out of their checkbooks. A check made on a home printer doesn’t have these edges. Of course, there are people who legitimately print checks themselves, but even those usually have one or more perforations.
Sometimes the checks themselves are legitimate, but the person trying to use them isn’t. Payroll and other checks are routinely stolen. That’s one reason why the federal government started electronically depositing Social Security checks.
Other forgers pilfer check stock directly from companies that write the drafts.
Inspect Signatures
Your business should have a policy of looking at the signatures on checks, preferably matching them against the signatures on the check writers’ driver’s licenses or other forms of identification.
Staff members should be instructed not to pay attention to the appearance of the check presenters. They should be concerned about the appearance of the checks.
Consider “Checks and Balances”
Companies issuing checks are at risk, as well. Company executives should examine check stock and account balances regularly to look for discrepancies. A system of checks and balances can also help deter internal fraud. For example, have different people write checks and reconcile bank accounts. Limiting the number of people authorized to write corporate checks reduces the chances of fraud.
Get professional help: An accounting firm with experience in this area can perform an internal control study and recommend ways to minimize employee fraud and theft. Your financial institution probably offers fraud deterrent programs that include check stock with water marks and other security features. Payroll cards, on which the company loads electronic payments, are also gaining in popularity.
Remember that the best defense against the danger of check fraud is a proactive approach that prevents – rather than detects — the crime.
| When a Check Bounces If you receive a bad check, most states have a means to collect or a court action to force payment. The preferred course of action is to try to collect on the check first.
Ordinarily, to force payment, you must do two things:
1. Show the check was dishonored. 2. Show the provider gave notice of the dishonor to the writer of the check. (All states require that the person who wrote the check first be notified that it was rejected.) Some states require further action, so look into whether your state has a special collection statute and whether courts have set out criteria for collecting on bad checks. Other Tips
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