Accounting Best Practices, Fifth Edition

3–37. Incorporate Copy Protection Features into Checks

Though rare, check counterfeiters occasionally either modify a check created by a company or create an entirely new one, resulting in significant losses to the company. There are a number of check protection features available that one can incorporate into the company check stock in order to thwart the efforts of counterfeiters. As a general rule, always add more security features to a check, because they compound the difficulty of replicating or altering the check. Here are some of the features that can be ordered from the check printer:

• “Void” image. When a check is copied, the word “Void” appears multiple times on the copied version of the check. This makes it impossible for a counterfeiter to create clean color copies of a check.

• Microprinting border. Text can be added along the edges of a check using very small fonts, so they are only visible as text when magnified. When copied, they appear as a line, with no discernible wording visible. This is a less obvious way to deter the efforts of someone attempting to color-copy a check.

• Modified background in dollar space. A set of wavy lines can be designed into the check, in the area where the dollar amount is printed on the check. By doing so, counterfeiters will have a very difficult time erasing existing dollar amounts without visibly damaging the background.

• Watermark. A watermark can be added to a check that is only visible when seen from an angle and that is impossible to ...