Check Washing

July 25, 2002

Check fraud is costing Americans 14 Billion dollars a year. Eight hundred million of that comes from cases of "check washing."

That's where the criminal -washes the ink off your check and re-uses it. It happens across the U.S....and here in Utah all the -time.

You can take precautions to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

Crime Specialist Karen Scullin has some tips.

More Info: Check Washing - What is it? (National Check Fraud Center) Consumer Checklist to Avoid Check Fraud Business Checklist to Avoid Check Fraud Survey to assess your risk Safe Payment Practices to prevent fraud

Check-Washing crooks usually get a hold of your checks by stealing them from your mailbox. Best advice is to bring it to the post office...but if you insist.... forensics experts at the West Valley City Police Department have found only ONE type of pen that won't wash out... you'll be surprised at which one of these it is.

This check for four hundred dollars looks okay... but actually it's been washed by a crook and reused.

You can tell from the carbon ... the same check was originally made out to Utah Power for just seventy dollars.

But even without the carbon.... forensics experts can use a laser to know for sure a crime has occurred.

UNDER THE WORD FOUR HUNDRED, OR BEHIND IT, THE ORIGINAL WORD THAT SAID SEVENTY STARTS TO COME OUT

But how do they do it? Using a Sanford Uniball gel pen....I wrote myself a check for a nice five hundred thousand dollars.--wishful thinking of course.

Forensics expert Kent Timothy takes on the roll of crook and begins to "wash" the checks with basic household products.

And almost like magic.... some of the ink on the various checks begins to disappear.

WE'RE SEEING THE OBLITERATION OF THIS PEN. IT'S THE BIC LIQUID INK. BLACK

Overall...the test revealed popular Bic brand pens are washable....but Timothy says same goes for Papermate Pens... in fact most pens.

Really..only one of the checks survived in very good condition....mine. Here's why.

WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS EVERYTHING FADING, OR COMPLETELY OBLITERATED...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE UNIBALL BLUE, THE UNIBALL BLACK MICRO, UNIBALL WAS USED HERE, THE UNIBALL ELITE PURPLE

The ONLY pen Timothy found that can't be washed at all....the Sanford Uniball.

Timothy Kent/West Valley City Police Forensics: IF THERE ARE CHEMISTS OR OTHER CRIMINALISTS OUT THERE WHO HAVE DISCOVERED SOMETHING THAT WILL REMOVE A UNIBALL I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT AND TRY IT...BECAUSE I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING AT ALL.

And no...he doesn't own stock in the Sanford Uniball Pen company. The best advice of all again...is to not put your checks in your mailbox..but if you must...the experts say use a Uniball.