Keep Your Checks in Check

Do You Practice Safe Checks?

It should come as easily as fastening your seat belt on a plane, so buckle up for this one.

While fewer people use checks today, they remain one of the most common targets for fraud. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, paper checks are 16 times more likely than electronic payments to be lost, stolen, altered, or fail to reach their intended recipient. That's why it's important to take extra precautions when writing, mailing, and handling checks.

Criminals are constantly developing new and sophisticated ways to steal personal and financial information. At Frandsen Bank & Trust, we're committed to helping our customers stay protected by using checks safely and recognizing potential fraud risks.

Don’t give criminals the runway: Understanding their tactics can be your first line of defense.

Criminals are known to raid mailboxes and take off with checks so they can alter them and steal your money. One way to prevent this is not to leave your mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods. If you’re heading out of town, you can pause your mail delivery for peace of mind. If you’re sending a check in the mail, don’t drop it in your mailbox. Instead, mail it from a USPS location to ensure it lands safely.

If criminals intercept your check, they could use what’s known as check washing. Chemicals are used to “wash” checks, erasing and rewriting details to siphon funds into their accounts. Lastly, suppose a criminal gets hold of your account and routing number. In that case, they can store that information away and easily steal your money by creating counterfeit checks using modern printers and software.

Remember, whenever you write a check, you expose your personal information, such as your name, contact information, and bank account number. If digital banking options aren’t an option, keep these tips in mind to practice check safety:

• Use permanent ink when writing a check.

• Avoid blank spaces. Ensure you fill out every blank space on a check so criminals can't fill them in instead.

• Withhold personal information. You don’t need to add personal information like a driver's license number to your checks.

• Monitor your account activity online or in the Frandsen Bank & Trust mobile app. Regular reviews ensure you quickly notice anything unusual.

• Consider switching to secure payment methods.

  • Online Wire Transfers: a reliable alternative to cash or writing checks.

  • Positive Pay: detect check and ACH fraud before it happens.

• Follow up with payees to confirm they've received and deposited your check.

For more tips, resources, and videos on how to #PracticeSafeChecks, visit PracticeSafeChecks.com.