Protect Yourself from Fraudulent Checks

25 Jan

During the holidays and the huge sales thereafter is a hot time for bad checks. It’s certainly not limited to holiday time, but it seems that criminals take a liking to the holiday season in ways that wreck it for the rest of us.

No business is immune. Large, small or mid-sized, every company must take precautions.

A few tips from Costco Service Provider Harland Clarke can help you and your employees spot fraud before the damage is done. Here’s what to look for when examining a paper check:

  1. Missing routing or bank numbers
  2. Low check number as it may indicate a newly opened account
  3. Missing address
  4. Handwritten address
  5. Missing bank name
  6. “Void” printed anywhere on check
  7. Glued, taped or stapled check
  8. Obvious erasures or white out portions
  9. Missing signature
  10. Unusually large purchase from unknown customer

Security features, like a watermark are a good sign that the check is legit. You may want to make a quick call to the bank before you finish the transaction.

As a business owner, you have the right to protect yourself. If the check just doesn’t feel or look right, request another form of payment.

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