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Modern day banking and checking is very safe, nevertheless, that are a few things to be mindful about. Whenever money is concerned, there will be those operating from the dark side who desire to relieve you from your wealth.

Bank check fraud has been the target of con artists and is a popular crime among criminally minded individuals. In ancient days the only means to defraud the unsuspecting was to use fraudulent weights and measures.

The process by which a check travels through the banking system can give one an indication of how criminals look to defraud the unwary. When a Check is issued and deposited, the bank sends it immediately to a clearing house that makes certain that funds are available to cover the amount of the check.

The most common fraud is check forgery. The con artist will sign your 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 loot.

Another variation appears when a check is stolen in transit. A stolen check issued by you can be 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) created a criteria for check printing which is the same standards followed by all accepted financial institutions. The MP icon, indicating that micro-security print is used in the design. One of these features is that the very small print that if photocopied will break up and is easily detected. Erasures and alterations are detectable as well.

Thieves and con artists are technologically resourceful and may resort to gaining access to security print paper as well as a good printer. With a good graphics program a fraudster can copy check numbers and other features they want to fake.

Account numbers on the face of a check can be altered using a chemical agent such as acetone, brake fluid or other chemical. Alterations of recipient information is possible as well.

By taking time each month to look over your financial statements you’ll prevent almost any chance of fraud. Simply looking over your bank check statement is the fail-safe way to fraud protection.