How to Detect Check Washing

Check washing is the practice of removing legitimate check information through chemical or electronic means. Thieves then rewrite the check payable to themselves and for a higher amount. The National Check Fraud Center estimates $815 million in check washing fraud a year. However, there are ways to detect check washing.

Instructions

1. Feel the check itself. The finish may feel uneven or softer than normal. Checks use high quality paper stock to meet new standards for electronic processing. Checks also have at least one perforated side.

2. Look at the check carefully. The paper color may be grayish, stained or the ink color somewhat different. Void appears on checks printed on chemically sensitive paper if they come into contact with chemical solvents.

3. Inspect the watermark on the check by holding the check up to the light at a 45-degree angle. It could be faint or nonexistent. Watermarks in the paper may be lines, geometric designs or patterns.

4. Verify that the check number at the top matches the check number at the bottom and that there isn't any missing information. Missing or incomplete routing numbers allow thieves more time for the check to clear because the receiver sends it to the wrong Reserve Bank.

5. Check the numbers at the bottom of the check to see if they appear flat and non-polished. The numbers are printed using magnetic ink or toner, also called Magnetic Ink Character Recognition.