Do You Practice Safe Checks?

Despite a continued decline in check use, paper checks remain one of the payment system's most persistent fraud vulnerabilities. In fact, paper checks are 16 times more likely than electronic fund transfers to be lost, stolen, altered, or returned undeliverable, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and finding new ways to steal your financial information to gain access to and fly off with your money. BNC National Bank is committed to helping our customers use checks safely.

Don’t give criminals the runway:    

Understanding the tactics they use 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 from happening is by not leaving your mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods of time. 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.

If criminals get hold of 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 own accounts. Lastly, if a criminal gets ahold of your account and routing number, they can stow that information away and easily steal your money by creating counterfeit checks using modern printers and software.

Remember, every time you write a check, you expose your personal information, such as your name, contact information and bank account number. Make sure your payments land safely by using digital options whenever possible. But if you have to write a check, keep these tips in mind to practice check safety:

1. Use Permanent Gel Pens
2. Avoid Blank Spaces
3. Withold Personal Information
4. Review Accounts
5. Check Your Checks
6. Use Digital Payment Options
7. Follow Up

Just as you’d confirm your flight details, make sure to 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 

Security is a Partnership

At BNC, we use cutting-edge technology and regular security audits to protect your data, but your awareness is the final line of defense. By staying informed, you turn individual aspirations into shared community progress.