RC SSE Federal Credit Union

Check Fraud

Purchase your checks through your credit union. Although many check printing companies offer lower priced checks, they're often cheaper because they don't have all the safety features of more expensive checks. For example, many companies that print checks for financial institutions have incorporated safety measure that prevent check washing. With check washing, the crook obtains a check you've written and uses a cleaning agent such as bleach to remove ink where you wrote in the payee, amount and signature. In many cases, this doesn't affect the other ink on the check, so the crook has a blank check from your account. Often, they'll wash everything but the signature, which makes it even easier for them to commit this crime undetected.

Don't use your mailbox when mailing checks. The red flag for the mailman is also an invitation for the crook. Drop checks into a US Postal Service collection box or mail them at the post office.

Destroy any unused deposit slips. Do not just throw them in the trash. A deposit slip contains enough information for a crook to order checks from your account.

Check your bank statements immediately after receiving them. If someone commits fraud on your checking account, the law requires you to report it within 30 days. Failure to do so voids your right to be reimbursed by your financial institution (UCC Code 4-406).

Don't discard any sensitive account information in household trash, including credit card bills or records

755 Brewster Avenue
Redwood City, CA 94063
(T) 650-366-7777
(F) 650-366-0748

Hours:
Monday-Friday
9:00-5:00