What Are High-Security Checks?

Modern businesses must contend with fraud, even if they still conduct transactions using paper checks. Fortunately, technology has made it possible to keep companies protected from check fraud and other illegal acts with high-security business checks.

You may ask, “Do I need high-security business checks, and what are they exactly?” These paper checks have advanced security features “baked in.” If your business is worried about check fraud, especially if you oversee multiple transactions, high-security checks offer additional levels of defense.

What Are High-Security Checks?

High-security checks are manufactured to prevent counterfeiting or tampering with official documents. They are printed on custom check paper that’s loaded with features that work to deter fraud.

The concept of high-security checks is not a new one. As far back as the 18th century, businesses have had to deal with fraud in some form. Many bad actors used chemicals to physically alter the appearance of paper checks, but technological breakthroughs in the mid-20th century led to magnetic ink character recognition (MICR), which seriously reduced acts of check fraud.

Key Security Features

Some notable business check security features include the following:

Toner Lock

A toner lock is a coating on the check paper that makes removing laser printer toner exceptionally difficult. It prevents changing the printed information on the check by integrating the toner more firmly with the check paper.

Security Void Pantograph

This is a custom printing pattern that produces a clear message, such as “VOID” or “COPY,” that indicates the check is a copy and a fraud. It’s not visible to the naked eye; the pantograph only reveals itself when someone attempts to copy it.

Advanced Chemical Protection

Businesses have used chemicals to defend against check fraud for hundreds of years. Today’s high-security checks use paper that’s especially sensitive to chemicals. These checks may employ ink that changes color or fades when exposed to heat to verify their authenticity. 

Some checks also have fluorescent fibers that only show up under ultraviolet light for another level of protection.

True Foundry Watermark

This feature is a symbol or pattern embedded on the paper of the check that displays when it’s held up to the light. The true foundry watermark indicates the check is genuine and extraordinarily challenging to counterfeit.

Additional security features may include micro-printing extremely small text that can’t be easily produced on printers, along with using holograms or reflective foil stamps that are hard to copy.

Do I Need High-Security Business Checks?

Any company that still uses paper checks as part of its business can benefit from high-security checks. They are physical counterparts to the sophisticated security features of digital payments that make copying, print deletion, or fraud difficult to pull off. 

These checks are particularly useful for industries traditionally susceptible to fraud, like property management or finances.

Why Check Depot?

Check Depot’s high-security business checks come with the most advanced, industry-leading security functions. They combine the latest safety technology with affordability, and Check Depot guarantees the lowest price you’ll find on the internet. 

Our ordering process is simple and fast. Protect your business with high-security business checks from Check Depot.