With the advancement of computer technology it is increasingly easy for criminals to manipulate checks in such a way as to deceive innocent victims expecting value in exchange for their money.

In most cases of check fraud, the crimes begin with the theft of a financial document. It can be perpetrated as easily as someone stealing a blank check from your home or vehicle during a burglary, searching for a canceled or old check in the garbage, or removing a check you have mailed to pay a bill from the mailbox.

Important Tips
• Never respond to unsolicited requests for your checking account, social security number or other financial information.
• Shred “convenience checks,” those allowing cash advances on credit cards and temporary checks before discarding.
• Shred unused checks from closed accounts
• Do not have your social security number or driver’s license number preprinted on your checks.
• When mailing checks, use a heavy-weight envelope or wrap checks in paper to conceal them from view.
• Safeguard checks at home and on your person.
• Notify us and your post office if newly ordered checks or your regular statements do not arrive on time.
• Know how many checks you order and make sure you check this number and the accuracy of the information on the checks when they arrive.
• Notify us immediately of any stolen checks and close any compromised accounts.
• Promptly review and reconcile checking account statements for accuracy.

Don’t give checking fraud a chance - FCU is here to help

Check 21
Effective October 28, 2004, the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act - or Check 21 brought the nation’s check payment system into the digital age and allows consumers to benefit from better and faster financial services.
With the enactment of Check 21, Congress’ main goal was improved efficiency in check processing. Check 21 improves today’s existing system that forces over 40 billion checks a year to be exchanged physically and often transported around the country several times before the payment cycle is completed.