Check Security: Are Your Personal And Business Checks Safe To Use?

Keeping your personal finances protected should be the first thing you think of when you order personal checks or business checks online. It's your responsibility to make sure the checks you buy have all the necessary security features to keep check fraud and identity theft from happening to you.

One of the first things you should look for is the presence of the padlock icon on your personal checks. This should be located towards the right edge of the check underneath the box intended for the dollar amount. Business checks may have the padlock icon in other acceptable places. The Check Payment Systems Association or CPSA has a trademark on the padlock symbol.

The CPSA authorizes its use and makes sure check printers are following recommended security guidelines. Padlock icons are meant to ensure check users that there were at least three security features used when printing the checks. Legitimate check printers will use a special type of paper when printing their business checks and personal checks.

For example, online retailer Check Advantage uses what is called UV Dull Basesheet. This type of paper is easy to distinguish from typical paper when you put it underneath an ultra violet light.

Check Advantage checks also contain StarlighT Invisible Fluorescent fibers which show up under a UV light. If you pick up a check and the paper feels flimsier than normal it may be a fake check or you may have purchased personal checks printed on paper that is not secure.

A security screen or ghost security pattern can be an additional security feature found on high quality checks. The security screen often reads "Original Document."." These words will not show up if a check is photocopied or scanned for illegal reproduction. Color security patterns can also complicate attempts to create fraudulent checks.

Another technology not visible by copiers and scanners is the process of using micro-printing. Manual business checks usually have micro-printing around the edges. Micro printing is present on the signature line of both laser checks and personal checks offered at Check Advantage and other legitimate check manufacturers.

Micro-printing is nothing more than tiny text on different places on the check. It usually reads "Original Document."." The words are difficult to see without the use of a magnifying glass. There should also be an MP logo next to the signature line.

Yet another effective way to deter check fraud is to treat the checks with bleach reactive brown stain and full solvent reactivity. If someone tries to change information written on a check through a process called check washing, these chemical reactants will create a highly visible stain.

If someone tries to use solvents to clear information from a check, a brown or orange stain will appear with bleach reactive brown-stain treatment, and a blue, green or purple mark will appear with full solvent reactivity.