bankchecks

Ever since the change from the barter age to the modern age when money was enacted as the medium for exchange, con artists appeared trying to make a dishonest living by cheating people. The axiom, prevention is better than cure, is a good tactic to employ.

With gold, silver, jewels, wampum or other physical hard money, the only alternative to the con artist was using false weights and measures to trick their marks or resort to outright stealing. But, with the onset of paper money and modern electronic record keeping, these fallen souls resorted to other methods. Check fraud is reported to be the number one crime for fraudulent money transaction according to statistics.

To better understand how this happens, let’s trace what happens with personal or business checks at banks. When you issue a business bank check to someone, that person eventually brings it to a bank and deposits it in his or her account. The bank then sends the check to a clearinghouse. This clearinghouse verifies that there are sufficient funds in your personal or business checking account and verifies this information to the bank. With this information, the bank deposits that exact amount into the account of the person the check was issued to.

The most common fraud is check forgery. The con artist will steal a blank check or make their entirely own check using your account number codes and sign the bank check with a likeness of your signature and make it look like you are issuing the check. He/she then cashes it and disappears with the ill-gotten loot.

Another variation appears when a bank check is stolen in transit. A stolen check issued by you can be stolen out of a mailbox or intercepted and endorsed and cashed by someone other than the person the check was intended for. He/she again cashes it and disappears with the loot.

American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) has created specific criteria for bank check printing which is the adhered to same standards followed by all accepted financial institutions. The MP icon, indicating that micro-security print is used in the design of the check. One of these security features used is that the very small print if photocopied will visually break up and can be identified and detected. Erasures and alterations smudge and are detectable as well.

Counterfeit bank check can be created using a computer graphic photo shop programs and with access to security paper and a good printer. Finding the technological equipment to create phone personal checks is easy to get and relatively inexpensive for forgers. Even with built in security features, bank check fraudsters are still successful in copying some of these security features.

Altered bank checks are genuine checks with an added twist. The intended recipient can be altered or the account number details altered so a con artist can reap the benefit. Alteration will be either of the payee or the amount the check was written for.

The best means of preventing check fraud is to pay attention to your financial statements. Banks can only do so much. Look over suspicious bank checks and be on guard. Left unchecked, fraud can damage you business or personal finances.

Searching online for bank checks, you'll also have greater choice and at the same time save more money. Bank checks and personal checks can be purchased direct from a check printing source saving you about 50%.

When you search online you'll discover an extensive choice of personal and business check designs covering a huge choice of categories and styles.

You are presented a wealth of choice. The opportunity to order bank checks online is a great leap forward causing competition in the banking industry and a flourishing opportunity for established check printers.

Every time you write a check you can leave someone with something that reflects your own unique personal style. There is a whole array of checks that fit almost any category you can think of. It allows you an opportunity to get personal.

These designer checks can include your favorite photos. They can be used for business or personal use. Even customized with your personal message.