Do You Practice Safe Checks?

It should come as easily as airline safety, so buckle up. Despite the fact that check use has declined by 25%, reports of check fraud have soared. They've nearly doubled since 2021. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and finding new ways to steal your financial information to gain access to and fly off with your money. Heartland Bank, is committed to helping our customers use check safely.

Don't give criminals the runway: Understanding their tactics can be your first line of defense.

Criminals are known to raid mailboxes and take off with checks so they can alter them and steal your money. One way to prevent this from happening is by not leaving your mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods of time. If you're heading out of town, you can pause your mail delivery for peace of mind. If you're sending a check in the mail, don't drop it in your mailbox. Instead, mail it form a USPS location to ensure it lands safely.

If criminals get ahold of your check, they could use what's known as check washing. Chemicals are used to "wash" checks, erasing and rewriting details to siphon funds into their own accounts. Lastly, if a criminal gets ahold of your account and routing number, they can stow that information away and easily steal your money by creating counterfeit checks using modern printers and software.

Remember, whenever you write a check, you expose your personal information, such as your name, contact information, and bank account number.

If digital banking options aren't an option, keep these tips in mind to practice check safety:

1. Use Permanent Gel Pens: Just like wearing a seatbelt when you fly, use permanent ink when you write a check to protect yourself.
2. Avoid Blank Spaces: Make sure you fill out every blank space on a check so criminals can't fill them in instead.
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 information to your checks.
4. Review Accounts: Monitor your account activity online or in the Heartland Bank 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.
5. Check Your Checks: To guard against fraud, regularly review your paid checks online and in our app. Ensure the endorsement is correct and reflects the intended payee and amount.
6.  Use Digital Payment Options: For fast and secure payments, consider switching to Zelle®, which is located in your Heartland Bank Mobile app or online bill pay.
7.  Follow-Up: Just as you confirm your flight details, make sure to follow up with the payees to confirm they've received and deposited your check.

For more airline-themed tips, resources, and videos on how to #PracticeSafeChecks, visit

www.PracticeSafeChecks.com. 

Click Here to learn more about our Banks Never Ask That initiative. 

Heartland Bank Tools to Help You Fight Fraud

At Heartland Bank, we are committed to your security and well-being. We offer tools and resources to help protect your finances:

• Credit Sense: Monitor your credit score and receive alerts for suspicious activity, which can help you detect potential fraud early.
• HB Mobile App: Manage your accounts on the go and monitor transactions in real-time, ensuring you're always aware of what's happening with your money.
• HB Alerts: To maintain your financial security, sign up for instant alerts on check activity and account transactions.

Stop by your local Heartland Bank branch for more information about these products. Together, we can fight fraud and keep your finances safe.