Osage County Sheriff Ty Koch

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Check WashingCheck WashingWhat is It?What is It?

National Check National Check Fraud CenterFraud Center

Check WashingCheck WashingWhat is It?What is It?

Check WashingCheck Washing

Check washing takes place to the Check washing takes place to the tune of $815 million every year tune of $815 million every year in the U.S. And it is increasing at in the U.S. And it is increasing at an alarming rate.an alarming rate.

Check WashingCheck Washing

Using a process known as check Using a process known as check washing, mail snatchers erase washing, mail snatchers erase the ink on a check with the ink on a check with chemicals found in common chemicals found in common household cleaning products or household cleaning products or on the shelves of your local Wal-on the shelves of your local Wal-Mart and then rewrite the checks Mart and then rewrite the checks to themselves, increasing the to themselves, increasing the amount payable by hundreds amount payable by hundreds and even thousands of dollars.and even thousands of dollars.

Types of Chemicals Reported Used:Types of Chemicals Reported Used:

1.1. Acetone, most widely used, is a highly volatile Acetone, most widely used, is a highly volatile organic solvent used mainly as a hand-wipe organic solvent used mainly as a hand-wipe solvent in cleaning applications. It is also a good solvent in cleaning applications. It is also a good drying agent for wet parts. But it will erase most drying agent for wet parts. But it will erase most inks from a stolen check without any noticeable inks from a stolen check without any noticeable effect. Reading the remarks on side of a can of effect. Reading the remarks on side of a can of Acetone, you will find out it effectively removes Acetone, you will find out it effectively removes some greases, oils, waxes, and inks. It is some greases, oils, waxes, and inks. It is commonly used to remove uncured fiberglass commonly used to remove uncured fiberglass resins, varnish, and lacquer and may be useful for resins, varnish, and lacquer and may be useful for applications that require a highly volatile cleaner. applications that require a highly volatile cleaner. Acetone may be applied by hand wipe or Acetone may be applied by hand wipe or immersion in an unheated tank; immersion in an unheated tank;

Types of Chemicals Reported Used:Types of Chemicals Reported Used:

1. Benzene, 1. Benzene, 2. Bleach, used in ever day cleaning in your home.2. Bleach, used in ever day cleaning in your home.3. Normally to whiten fibers in clothes washing. 3. Normally to whiten fibers in clothes washing. 4. Carbon Tetrachloride, most widely used in carpet 4. Carbon Tetrachloride, most widely used in carpet

cleaning, cleaning, 5. Chloromice "T", a mild form of bleach, used 5. Chloromice "T", a mild form of bleach, used

normally in the socking of baby diapers, normally in the socking of baby diapers, 6. Fox "IT", used mostly with stamp collectors, 6. Fox "IT", used mostly with stamp collectors, 7. Clear Correction Fluids,7. Clear Correction Fluids,8. A high-performance eraser to erase everything 8. A high-performance eraser to erase everything

from ballpoint pen ink, PPC and Diazo copy ink, from ballpoint pen ink, PPC and Diazo copy ink, to typewriter ribbon ink, drafting ink, and printed to typewriter ribbon ink, drafting ink, and printed matter. matter.

Problem at hand:Problem at hand:

The problem has grown so severe The problem has grown so severe that many local and federal that many local and federal authorities have formed task forces authorities have formed task forces around the country, with agents from around the country, with agents from the Postal Inspection Service, U.S. the Postal Inspection Service, U.S. attorney's office, local police forgery attorney's office, local police forgery units, FBI and Secret Service.units, FBI and Secret Service.

They offer the following advice to They offer the following advice to people with old-fashioned mailboxes:people with old-fashioned mailboxes:

Don't leave outgoing mail in an unlocked box. Take it Don't leave outgoing mail in an unlocked box. Take it to work, drop it in a collection box, hand it to a letter to work, drop it in a collection box, hand it to a letter carrier or take it directly to the post office. carrier or take it directly to the post office.

If you have to leave outgoing mail in your box, do it If you have to leave outgoing mail in your box, do it immediately before the letter carrier comes, and immediately before the letter carrier comes, and don't raise the mailbox flag. don't raise the mailbox flag.

Avoid leaving mail in a box on Sundays and holidays, Avoid leaving mail in a box on Sundays and holidays, when letter carriers don't work. when letter carriers don't work.

Install a lock on your box. This can be done by Install a lock on your box. This can be done by placing the lock on your mailbox and then cutting a placing the lock on your mailbox and then cutting a small slit in the mailbox that is large enough to slide small slit in the mailbox that is large enough to slide mail through, but which is not big enough for a hand mail through, but which is not big enough for a hand to fit in. Residents also can purchase a mailbox with to fit in. Residents also can purchase a mailbox with a lock already on it for roughly $20 at a hardware a lock already on it for roughly $20 at a hardware store. In both cases, you will not be able to have store. In both cases, you will not be able to have outgoing mail picked up.outgoing mail picked up.

Who suffers:Who suffers:

Check washing costs banks and merchants "hundreds of thousands of dollars" a year, and ultimately we the consumer, pay for that in higher fees or prices.

If the check was in the mail but creditors are hounding you for payment, it may be that some clever mail thieves snagged your check to pay their own debts.

Local issuesLocal issues

In Northeastern Oklahoma there are In Northeastern Oklahoma there are hundreds of check washing cases hundreds of check washing cases reported every year. reported every year.

In 2006 the Osage County Sheriff’s In 2006 the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received over forty cases from Office received over forty cases from across the county in just four across the county in just four months. months.

The following is a example of how simple it is to be

victimized by check washing.

The above check Bic Velocity Retractable Gel Pen

The above check Generic Bic Round Stic

The check is placed into a pan containing the chemicals to remove the ink.

The check then is placed into a container until it is dry.

The generic pen was practically washed clean of ink.

The Gel Pen shows very little difference after being washed

Positive Protective Measures:Positive Protective Measures: Don't put bills in a residential mailbox. The red flag Don't put bills in a residential mailbox. The red flag

sticking up is like an invitation to a thief. sticking up is like an invitation to a thief. Ask your bank if you can pick up new books of Ask your bank if you can pick up new books of

checks. Or ask the bank to have a parcel delivery checks. Or ask the bank to have a parcel delivery service deliver them. service deliver them.

Shred or burn canceled checks. If you need to save Shred or burn canceled checks. If you need to save them, make sure the canceled checks are in a them, make sure the canceled checks are in a secured area, such as a bank lock box, or a wall safe. secured area, such as a bank lock box, or a wall safe. Don't throw them in the trash. Don't throw them in the trash.

Check bank statements immediately after receiving Check bank statements immediately after receiving them. If you fail to report check fraud within 30 days them. If you fail to report check fraud within 30 days of receiving your monthly statement, the bank does of receiving your monthly statement, the bank does not have to reimburse your loss (UCC Code 4-406). not have to reimburse your loss (UCC Code 4-406).

Print a return address on an envelope. A signature Print a return address on an envelope. A signature can be traced, duplicated or forged. can be traced, duplicated or forged.

Don't discard credit card records or bills with Don't discard credit card records or bills with household trash. household trash.

WHAT TYPE OF PEN TO USE WHAT TYPE OF PEN TO USE WHEN WRITING A CHECK:WHEN WRITING A CHECK:

If you are a ballpoint pen lover, switch to If you are a ballpoint pen lover, switch to black ink when security is important. Among black ink when security is important. Among water-based inks, remember that water-based inks, remember that gels are gels are the most imperviousthe most impervious. But when you're . But when you're writing checks to pay the monthly bills, only writing checks to pay the monthly bills, only one type of ink, the kind in gel pens, has one type of ink, the kind in gel pens, has been found to be counterfeit proof to been found to be counterfeit proof to acetone or any other chemical used in acetone or any other chemical used in "check washing." Most ballpoint and marker "check washing." Most ballpoint and marker inks are dye based, meaning that the inks are dye based, meaning that the pigments are dissolved in the ink.pigments are dissolved in the ink.

WHAT TYPE OF PEN TO USE WHAT TYPE OF PEN TO USE WHEN WRITING A CHECK:WHEN WRITING A CHECK:

Based on recent ink security studies, we highly recommend that you use a gel pen, like the Uniball 207 that uses gel ink that contains tiny particles of color that are trapped into the paper, making check washing a lot more difficult. The pen sells for about $2.. But if you don't want to switch, do not hesitate to use your favorite fountain pen. Just fill it with ink in one of the more durable colors.

Identity theft & Fraud

Identity Theft and Fraud  Identity Theft and Fraud  

Identity-Theft is the fastest Identity-Theft is the fastest growing crime in America; 9.9 growing crime in America; 9.9 MILLION victims were reported MILLION victims were reported last year, according to a Federal last year, according to a Federal Trade Commission survey!Trade Commission survey!

What Should I Do To Avoid Becoming A What Should I Do To Avoid Becoming A

Victim Of Identity Theft?Victim Of Identity Theft?

The short answer is that identity theft is a crime.The short answer is that identity theft is a crime.

Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain. deception, typically for economic gain.

Unlike your fingerprints, which are Unlike your fingerprints, which are unique to you and cannot be given to unique to you and cannot be given to

someone else for their use, your someone else for their use, your personal data especially your personal data especially your Social Social

Security numberSecurity number, , your bank your bank accountaccount or or credit card numbercredit card number, ,

your telephone calling card number, your telephone calling card number, and other valuable identifying data and other valuable identifying data

can be used, if they fall into the can be used, if they fall into the wrong hands, to personally profit at wrong hands, to personally profit at

your expense. your expense.

What Should I Do To Avoid Becoming A What Should I Do To Avoid Becoming A

Victim Of Identity Theft?Victim Of Identity Theft?

To reduce or minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud, there are some

basic steps you can take. For starters, just remember the word "SCAM":

Be stingy about giving out your personal information to others unless you have a reason to trust them, regardless of where you are.

Check your financial information regularly, and look for what should be there and what shouldn't.

Ask periodically for a copy of your credit report.

Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts.

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The end.The end.

This presentation has been provided This presentation has been provided by the Osage County Sheriff’s Office by the Osage County Sheriff’s Office to benefit the citizens of Osage to benefit the citizens of Osage County.County.

Presented by: Sheriff Ty Koch.Presented by: Sheriff Ty Koch.

Written by: Chief Scott Laird (Pawhuska P.D.) & Lt. Written by: Chief Scott Laird (Pawhuska P.D.) & Lt. Bart Perrier.Bart Perrier.

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