Practice Safe Checks

Do you practice safe checks?

Thousands of people fall victim to check fraud daily, losing their hard-earned money.  Check fraud has doubled in recent years, and criminals are using more advanced tactics to exploit paper checks.  As this risk grows, it’s important to be vigilant in your efforts to protect yourself from check fraud.  BayVanguard is committed to helping you learn to use checks safely.

Here are some tips to protect yourself, just like you do when you’re on a plane:

1. 1. Use Permanent Gel Pens

Just like wearing a seatbelt when you fly, use permanent ink when you write a check to protect yourself.

1. 2. Avoid Blank Spaces

Fill those overhead bins before takeoff, and make sure you fill out every blank space on a check so criminals can’t fill them in instead.

1. 3. Withhold Personal Information

The person in the middle seat doesn’t need to know your whole life story, just like you don’t need to add personal info to your checks.

1. 4. Review Accounts

Monitor your account activity online or in our mobile app as attentively as you await a safe arrival message from a loved one. Regular reviews ensure you quickly notice anything out of the ordinary.

1. 5. Check Your Checks

Using a digital boarding pass is easy, and so is reviewing your paid checks online and in our app, regularly. Ensure the endorsement, intended payee and amount listed are correct.

1. 6. Use Digital Payment Options

Consider switching to BayVanguard’s online Bill Pay for fast and secure payments.

1. 7. Follow Up

Just as you confirm your flight details, make sure to follow up with payees to confirm they’ve received and deposited your check.

Visit www.practicesafechecks.com for more information.