Ordering Checks Online The Smart Way

In the present era everything is now available online, and for most people ordering checks online, whether they are personal checks or business checks, is proving to be a boon. There are many reasons why individuals and businesses order checks online. The most important factor being the ease with which designs can be selected or created in order to personalize the checks. Ordering checks is also very convenient because all that you have to do is to provide the designs and other information to the website of the online company and place your order. Everything can now be done from the comfort of your home or from your office, without having to visit different companies specializing in this work. The online company can be selected by browsing through the websites of different companies and comparing their offers, especially their designs, rates, terms and other conditions of sale.

It seems to be all too easy and convenient. However, this world is no longer without fraudulent people, and therefore it is quite important to act in a smart way. Being vigilant is all the more essential if you are ordering something as important and crucial as your personal checks because if they are not handled carefully you might lose your hard-earned money.

Check fraud has been going on ever since the practice of writing checks began. The minds of criminals have always been a step ahead of whatever protection we can think of. In the initial stages, crafty con artists used their expertise in photocopying and altering checks to commit check fraud and steal money from helpless victims. The incidence of check frauds has increased exponentially with the advancement of technology and the skills of these con artists. It is therefore essential that you take all precautions and necessary steps to avoid being a victim of such frauds.

The first step in exercising caution is to choose a reliable online company for ordering checks. You need to collect information regarding the reputation of the company from your friends or relatives and to check with BBB for confirmation. You can also ask the company for the ways in which it would protect you from check fraud. The online company should be able to incorporate effective security features that will protect you from check fraud irrespective of whether you need cheap checks, personal checks that reflect your personality, or high quality business checks.

The online check company selected by you should be able to provide the following special safety features so that the checks are protected against photocopying, erasures, toner removal, chemical alteration and counterfeiting.

Microprinting is an important safety feature which thwarts those trying to photocopy the information on the check. Basically, the printing is done in quite small characters that are unable to be copied. During this process, the toner inside the cartridge with which printing is done contains a very special type of magnetic iron oxide that emits a unique magnetic signal from the characters that are printed. Protection from fraud is provided by this process because when the check is passed through a machine the magnetic signals are picked up and sorted by the machine. Apart from checks, the process of microprinting also protects other documents in a similar way. The online check company has to ensure that the formulation of the toner is unique and correct so that it produces the desired signal strength. Besides, standards regarding font types, font sizes and the placement of characters on the check have to be maintained in order that the machine accepts it. However, there are different standards regarding this process in different countries.

The online check companies also need to enhance the security of the checks by printing MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) characters on the bottom of the checks. This helps in detecting the fraud promptly. Besides, the formulation of the MICR toner should also incorporate special formulation that will not allow the chemical alteration of the check. If a person tries to alter the check, a stain of red or another color will spread across the check and render it useless.

•  Erasure Protection is an important safety feature which helps in detecting fraud. This occurs if a person tries to erase any information on the check and writes some other name or amount. The online check company should have sufficient measures incorporated in the checks, like the appearance of a white spot, for preventing such a fraud.

•  Each check should have the words ‘original document’ printed on them in such a way that they cannot be photocopied.

•  The checks should have watermarks that are made when the paper is manufactured. These marks are difficult to see unless the paper is held at a 45 degree angle. and hence copiers and scanners will not be able to copy them accurately thus making it difficult to be counterfeited.

•  It is essential for online check companies to incorporate pantographs which are patented designs placed in the background pattern of checks. If a person tries to photocopy it, the pattern will change and the word “VOID” will appear. The check will be rendered non-negotiable.

• The process ofChemical Voids is also used which treats the check paper in such a way that if an eradicator chemical is applied to it, the word “VOID” will appear and the check will become non-negotiable. Checks treated with chemical voids cannot be altered without being discovered.

• High-Resolution Micro Printing, another safety feature, is done on the signature line or around the border. To the naked eye, it will seem to be a line or a pattern but if it is observed under a microscope, a series of words running together will appear. These will become totally illegible if it is photocopied or if a desktop scanner is used to scan it.

•  A three-dimensional reflective holostripe when used makes difficult to reproduce, scan or forge the check. A holostripe is a metallic stripe containing one or more holograms and it is produced by a complicated laser-based etching process.

• It isimportant to embed an important safety feature like Invisible and Visible Fibers in the check sheet, which can only be seen under ultraviolet light. It is extremely difficult to duplicate them. Visible fibers are arranged on both sides of the check and are visible in ordinary light. If an edge is torn, these fibers will extend out to confirm authenticity.

•  A check with foil and embossing will be very difficult to photocopy and counterfeit. It is essential to check whether the online check company is equipped with the software and technology for laser printing of the checks. With the help of this technology, the printing process becomes efficient and provides effective safeguards against check fraud.

It is always wise to keep track of your accounts and as such the best way to protect yourself from check fraud is to keep reconciling your monthly statements and balancing your checkbook. If any check fraud is committed, it will become apparent immediately.

1) If you find that your checkbook has been stolen, you should immediately inform your bank and stop payments for the series of checks that have been stolen. It would also be advisable to transfer funds to a different account.

2) It is very important to choose an online check company after making all inquiries regarding its reputation and the type of security features that it can provide so that there is no chance of a check fraud. It is also equally important to be vigilant regarding the behavior and dealings of such a company. When you entrust the extremely sensitive work of producing personal or business checks, you will be providing the company with important personal information that should normally not be divulged to anyone.

3) If the online check company is fraudulent and unscrupulous, it can use this information to commit check fraud and other types of identity theft and leave you in a financial mess. The check company might collude with other thieves, get the checks from your mail and replace them with forged checks since it would be easy for them to keep a few of the checks that they printed for you. In order to avoid any such situation, it is important to find the right company if you wish to have personalized checks or else you should be content with the checks that are provided by the bank.

In the present era of technological advancement, ordering checks online is proving to be a boon. However, it is important to keep a tab on fraudsters and choose an online check company wisely that provides adequate safety measures and protects you from counterfeit frauds.

Since check fraud can lead to considerable amount of financial loss, it is essential for you to take some security steps yourself.

While writing a check it is advisable to use black ink. Writing with gels is the safest because gels are most impervious and resistant to acetone or other chemicals that are used in check washing. Gel ink contains small particles of color that get trapped in the paper making it difficult for fraudsters to do check washing. Writing with a fountain pen and using a durable ink is also safe.