Do you practice safe checks?
While the use of personal checks is down by 25 percent, the amount of fraud has nearly doubled since 2021.
In fact, an unprotected check is a gold mine for criminals.
Throughout the month of October, the American Bankers Association has fought back against phishing scams with its annual #BanksNeverAskThat campaign. It’s all part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Once again, Regions Banks is proud to participate in this effort to education our customers and the public.
There’s a new addition to the fight against fraud this year: Practice Safe Checks.
Your first line of defense is understanding the tactics criminals use. Here are some examples of how you practice safe checks:
Stolen checks – Criminals frequently raid mailboxes and intercept mail, snatching checks so they can alter them and steal your money.
Tampered checks – Scammers employ chemicals to “wash” checks, erasing and rewriting details to siphon funds into their accounts.
Fake checks – Armed with routing and account numbers, criminals easily craft counterfeit checks using modern printers and software.
But there’s good news. You can protect yourself by following practice safe checks tips. The ABA uses the analogy of an airline flight to make the points easily understandable.
7 Steps to Writing Safer Checks
- Use permanent gel pens – Just like wearing your seatbelt when you fly, protect yourself by using permanent ink when you write a check.
- Avoid blank spaces –Fill those overhead compartments before takeoff! Similarly, make sure you fill out every blank space on a check so criminals can’t fill them in instead.
- Withhold personal information – The person in the middle seat doesn’t need to know your whole life story, just like you don’t need to add personal info to your checks.
- Review accounts –Monitor your account activity on your online banking platform as attentively as you await a safe arrival message from a loved one. Regular reviews ensure you quickly notice anything out of the ordinary.
- Check your checks –Regularly review your paid checks on your online banking platform as thoroughly as airport staff check your boarding pass. Ensure the endorsement is correct and reflects the intended payee and amount to guard against fraud.
- Use digital payment options –If you’re switching to digital boarding passes, why not switch to your bank’s payment app or online bill pay for fast and secure payments?
- Follow up – Just as you confirm your flight details, make sure to follow up with payees to confirm they’ve received and deposited your check.
The ABA’s Practice Safe Checks landing page also has additional tips, including what to do if you suspect fraud.
The annual #BanksNeverAsk that campaign is robust. It includes details on how to spot various phishing scams (email, text, phone and payment apps). In addition, you can test your knowledge with quizzes, including the popular Scam City, and watch some short but entertaining videos.
Regions is proud to participate as part of ongoing efforts to educate the public. Our mission is to help keep others safe.
The #BanksNeverAskThatCampaign has so much great content, including great advice on steps you can take before scammers come calling.
So, what are you waiting for? Join Regions and the ABA throughout the month of October. Remember, #BanksNeverAskThat.
Helpful #BanksNeverAskThat Resources
The information presented is general in nature and should not be considered, legal, accounting or tax advice. Regions reminds its customers that they should be vigilant about fraud and security and that they are responsible for taking action to protect their computer systems. Fraud prevention requires a continuous review of your policies and practices, as the threat evolves daily. There is no guarantee that all fraudulent transactions will be prevented or that related financial losses will not occur. Visit regions.com/STOPFRAUD or speak with your Banker for further information on how you can help prevent fraud.