Learn to Protect and Serve

Documents with security features add value and peace of mind.

Nobody likes to think about what would happen if the proverbial "rainy day" ever came to pass. But gambling that it won't isn't going to help when something does go wrong.

Aided by the proliferation of powerful printers, copiers and scanners, check and document fraud continues to grow. But despite the increasing sophistication of would-be crooks, how many businesses are really insured against the threat of deception?

"The question to ask is, who's going to look at my documents and who's going to steal them?" said Tom Hahn, vice president, Data Management, Butler, Wis. "After you've figured that out, all you have to do is take reasonable steps to protect your documents."

Perhaps the easiest and most cost-effective way to protect a company's checks and documents is to fortify them using overt security measures such as watermarks, warning bands, foil stamps, holograms, pantographs or numeric characters.

Overt measures such as these depend on identification with the naked eye at the point of exchange.

For a deeper level of security, covert systems, which include hidden information, micro taggants and ultraviolet and chemical reactions, can be built into checks and documents.

Covert security systems usually require the use of special lighting or devices and, in some cases, can even rely on advanced technical knowledge using laboratory or forensic equipment.

"I wouldn't sell a check without security features," said Buzz Underwood, chairman, CDC, Cooley Group, Syracuse, N.Y. "I usually use a combination of overt and covert features, even if the customer doesn't know what they are, because they're worthwhile."

Check Standards

For check writing, the American Bankers Association recommends a set of standards to en-sure that businesses take due diligence in protecting themselves from counterfeiting and fraud.

In the past, there have been court cases in which companies that failed to take reasonable steps to protect themselves against the threat of counterfeiting and fraud were held liable for lost money.