Do You Practice Safe Checks?

It should come as easily as airline safety, so buckle up for this one. Despite the fact that check use has declined by 25%, reports of check fraud have soared. In fact, they’ve nearly doubled since 2021. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and finding new ways to steal your financial information to gain access to, and fly off with your money. Merchants Bank is committed to helping our customers use checks safely.

Don’t give criminals the runway: Understanding the tactics they use can be your first line of defense.

Criminals are known to raid mailboxes and take off with checks so they can alter them and steal your money. One way to prevent this from happening is by not leaving your mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods of time. If you’re heading out of town, you can pause your mail delivery for peace of mind. If you’re sending a check in the mail, don’t drop it in your mailbox. Instead, mail it from a USPS location to ensure it lands safely.
 
If criminals get ahold of your check, they could use what’s known as check washing. Chemicals are used to “wash” checks, erasing and rewriting details to siphon funds into their own accounts. Lastly, if a criminal gets ahold of your account and routing number, they can stow that information away, and easily steal your money by creating counterfeit checks using modern printers and software.

Remember, every time you write a check, you expose your personal information, such as your name, contact information and bank account number. If digital banking options aren’t an option, keep these tips in mind to practice check safety:

1. Use Permanent Gel Pens. Just like wearing a seatbelt when you fly, use permanent ink when you write a check to protect yourself.
2. Avoid Blank Spaces. Make sure you fill out every blank space on a check so criminals can't fill them in instead.
3. 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.
4. Review Accounts. Monitor your account activity online or in the Merchants Bank mobile app as attentively as you await a safe arrival message from a loved one. Regular reviews ensure you quickly notice anything out of the ordinary.
5. Check Your Checks. Regularly review your paid checks online and in our app. Ensure the indorsement is correct and reflects the intended payee and amount to guard against fraud.
6. Use Digital Payment Options. Consider using online bill pay for fast and secure payments. 
7. 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.

For more airline-themed tips, resources and videos on how to #PracticeSafeChecks, visit www.PracticeSafeChecks.com.