Some
Hints for Preventing Thefts from Your Checking Account
December
4, 2002
Are
you leaving yourself open to larceny by being careless
with your checking account? Here are some hints some
obvious and some not on how to protect your checking
account from forgers and other larcenous individuals:
- Don't
write checks with an erasable ball-point pen. Under
humid conditions, the ink can take hours, sometimes
days, to dry fully. In the meanwhile, a forger can
change what you've written.
- In
writing a check, leave no blank spaces, such as (1)
before or after the name of the payee, (2) before or
after the spelled-out amount of the check and (3)
between the dollar symbol and the numerical amount.
Cross out the blank areas so a thief can't add
information.
- If
you mail a deposit or put it into an automatic teller
machine or night depository slot, write "For
Deposit Only" above your endorsement signature on
the back of the check. That way, your check can't be
cashed if it falls into the wrong hands.
- Don't
keep a record of your checking account number and your
automatic teller machine (ATM) personal identification
number (PIN) in the same place (for example, in your
wallet). Together, these numbers make it relatively
easy for a thief to steal from your account even
without a check.
- If
you stop payment on a check, do it in writing and do
it as soon as possible. While a bank will usually
issue a stop-order on your verbal instructions, you
may have a problem if the bank inadvertently pays the
check. To stop payment on a certified or teller's
check, the bank might require, depending on the
circumstances, a bond from you for as much as twice
the check's amount..
|
