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Forgery
Source: Encyclopedia of Banking & Finance (9h Edition) by Charles
J Woelfel
(We recommend this as work of authority.)
In its broadest
interpretation, "making or altering any document with the intention
of prejudicing another person."
A
statutory definition of forgery considers it to include false making,
counterfeiting, and the alteration, erasure, or obliteration of a genuine
instrument, in whole or in part, the false making or counterfeiting of
the signature of a party or witness, and the placing or connecting together
with intent to defraud different parts of several genuine instruments.
Thus
placing a false signature on a check, raising the amount, or changing
the payee's name or the number of the check with intention to defraud
constitutes forgery. The
alteration of a passbook entry likewise is forgery.
Forgery is a statutory crime and is punishable by imprisonment.
The following precautions against check forgeries should be taken:
-
Never
cash a check for a stranger until he is identified by you through
someone you know and upon whom you can rely.
-
Never
accept a check just because it looks businesslike.
Criminals frequently counterfeit checks of well-known concerns.
-
always
verify bank certifications through the certifying bank.
Certifications are frequently counterfeited by criminals.
-
Never
do what a stranger suggests in order to identify him, unless the suggestion
leads to identification through someone you know and upon whom you
can rely. He may have
arranged with an accomplice to give you misinformation.
-
Never
sign a check in blank or make it out payable to cash or bearer unless
absolutely necessary.
-
Never
leave your checkbook or cancelled vouchers where anyone else can get
hold of them.
-
Always
write your checks carefully with good ink, typewriter, or checkwriter
which will indent the paper.
Begin each line at the left-hand side and leave no spaces between
your words.
-
Be
sure to have a safe place for delivery of your business mail.
Do not depend on the type of box that can be easily opened
by a criminal.
-
If
possible never let anyone else check your bank book with paid and
cancelled checks returned from the Bank.
This is the one thing that every businessperson should do monthly
and personally whenever possible.
See
FORGED INSTRUMENTS
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