Abstract:
A method for a consumer or business to protect against loss associated with specified forms of check fraud. Upon purchasing checks, a consumer or business can subscribe to a check fraud protection program, for an additional fee. A consumer or business may purchase Check Fraud Protection for an additional fee independent of purchasing checks. The subscription will enable the consumer or business to obtain reimbursement from the service provider for the consumer&#39;s losses due to specified causes. The consumer or business reciprocally assigns any right of recovery from the consumer&#39;s or business&#39;s bank or financial institution to the service provider, which can then seek reimbursement from the bank, or financial institution and institute proceedings against the fraud perpetrator. Protection may be obtained for forged signatures, forged endorsements and altered check. A symbol to indicate such protection is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/328,362, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 9, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/685,206, entitled “System and Method for Providing Recovery for Victims of Check Fraud”, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 14, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,346,637, which is based upon and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/418,936 entitled “System and Method for Providing Check Fraud Protection”, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 15, 2002, the entire disclosures of which are included herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention disclosed herein relates generally to the recovery of losses associated with unauthorized use of negotiable instruments, and more particularly to a fraud protection system and method for enabling an individual consumer or business to recover losses due to forged signatures, forged endorsements, or altered information on checks. 
     Background of the Prior Art 
     Attempted check fraud at commercial banks is a growing problem. Check fraud can be one of the most damaging financial frauds. A victim of check fraud can suffer not only loss of all their financial holdings, but damage to their credit report as well. 
     Check fraud is generally perpetrated in one of several manners, such as:
         FORGED SIGNATURES—legitimate blank checks with an imitation of the payer signature;   FORGED ENDORSEMENTS—often involves the use of a stolen check, which is then endorsed and cashed or deposited by someone other than the payee;   COUNTERFEIT CHECKS—due to the advancement in color copying and desktop publishing capabilities, this is the fastest-growing source of fraudulent checks today;   ALTERED CHECKS—information on a legitimate check, such as payee or check amount, changed to benefit the perpetrator; and   CHECK KITING—the process of depositing a check from one bank account into a second bank account without the sufficient funds to cover it.       

     According to the Federal Reserve Board, more than 500 million checks are forged annually, with losses totaling more than $10 billion. 
     According to the National Check Fraud Center, check fraud and counterfeiting are among the fastest-growing problems affecting the nation&#39;s financial system, producing estimated annual losses of $10 billion, and continues to rise annually at an alarming rate. 
     According to a report issued by the American Banker, an industry bankers&#39; magazine, estimates of losses from check fraud will grow by 2.5% annually in the coming years. 
     Many processes and techniques have been developed to thwart the growing problem of check fraud. Special inks, microprinting, encryption of machine-readable code, and specially designed checkbooks to disclose loss of checks are some methods suggested to guard against check fraud. Even with the multitude of schemes to prevent incidents of check fraud, the continued growth indicates that most courses of action are ineffective in preventing such occurrence, such that businesses and consumers continue to lose significant funds through the ongoing check fraud ailment. Efforts must be directed to recovery of losses attributed to such check fraud. 
     Ordinarily, for a victim of check fraud to recover losses arising from such victimization, the victim must generally investigate the fraud on their own, report the fraud to their bank or financial institution to seek reimbursement, and initiate criminal and/or civil proceedings as appropriate, if necessary. Such steps are generally unfamiliar to the average person, and the apprehension of such tasks can present a barrier to entry. 
     Accordingly, there has been found to remain a need for a simple method for a victim of check fraud to recover from losses associated with specific forms of check fraud, such as forged signatures, forged endorsements, and alterations to legitimate checks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to enable a process for recovering losses due to check fraud that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     It is another object of the present invention to enable a method by which a subscriber can recover losses due to specific modes of check fraud. A related object is to enable a method by which a subscriber can recover losses directly from a Check Fraud Protection service provider. 
     It is another object of the present invention to enable a method by which a subscriber can recover losses due to check fraud in the nature of forged signatures. It is another object of the present invention to enable a method by which a subscriber can recover losses due to check fraud in the nature of forged endorsements. It is yet another object of the present invention to enable a method by which a subscriber can recover losses due to check fraud in the nature of altered instruments. 
     Another object of the present invention is the provision of a reimbursement request form for reporting loss to the subscriber&#39;s Check Fraud Protection service provider. 
     Another object of the present invention is the provision of limited durable power of attorney by which a subscriber can assign any right of recovery arising from the fraud to the Check Fraud Protection service provider. 
     Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel method for recovering losses arising from specific modes of check fraud. 
     In accordance with the above objects, a system and method for a subscriber to protect against loss associated with specified forms of check fraud are provided. Upon purchasing checks or at the time of subscription, a subscriber can, for an additional fee, subscribe to a check fraud protection program. The subscription will enable the subscriber to obtain reimbursement from the Check Fraud Protection service provider for the consumer&#39;s losses due to predetermined causes of check fraud. The subscriber reciprocally assigns any right of recovery from the subscriber&#39;s bank or financial institution to the Check Fraud Protection service provider, which can then seek reimbursement from the bank, or financial institution and institute proceedings against the fraud perpetrator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are considered in more detail, in relation to the following description of embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a check for describing features of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of an insert accompanying checks purchased under an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a reimbursement request form for use in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    is a durable power of attorney for use in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention summarized above may be better understood by referring to the following description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers are used for like parts. This description of an embodiment, set out below to enable one to practice an implementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the preferred embodiment, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
       FIG. 1  shows a view of the face of a prepared check, indicated generally as  10 . On the face of the check are the following data items: the name and address of the account holder  13 ; the name of the payee  16 ; the issuing bank number with routing number  19 ; the checking account number  22 ; a check number  25 ; the check date  28 ; the check amount  31 ; the name of the issuing bank  34 ; and the signature of the payer  37 . 
     Indication of some security features may also be seen on the face of the check  10 . For example, it is common to use microprinting to create the signature line  40 . Such microprinting appears as a dotted line when photocopied. The stylized MP symbol  43  indicates the presence of microprinting. The padlock symbol  46  is a certification mark indicating that the check  10  contains certain security features. 
     Pursuant to one feature of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, additional indicia  50  may be provided on the face of the check indicating that the particular check  10  is protected by a check fraud protection program as disclosed herein. As explained in greater detail below, while a series of checks  10  having consecutive check numbers is issued to an account holder, it is intended that all checks in such series according to the instant invention bear such indicia  50 , and thus that the check fraud protection program disclosed herein applies check fraud protection to every one of the checks in such series. 
     It is not necessary, however, that a check has such indicia  50  in order to be eligible for check fraud protection according to the present invention. A subscriber can enroll checks in the check fraud protection program and identify the existing checks to be covered. Those checks will not have the indicia  50  thereon. Upon purchasing a subsequent order of check, the indicia  50  may be printed on the face of all the checks in such subsequent order. 
     In operation, the system of the present invention operates as follows:
     a. An individual consumer or business subscribes to a check fraud protection program to cover certain instances of check fraud. If the subscriber already has printed checks, then the numbers of the existing checks should be reported to the Check Fraud Protection service provider for enrollment in the check fraud protection program. The subscription will last for a predetermined period of time.   b. Upon ordering a first or subsequent box of checks from a check printing source the subscriber provides to the check printer the appropriate information to be printed on the check, such as the name and address of the account holder  13 ; the issuing bank number with routing number  19 ; the name of the issuing bank  34  and checking account number  22 ; and a beginning check number  25  for the box of checks.   c. If the subscriber has not previously enrolled the numbers of existing checks in the check fraud protection program, then during the ordering process, the subscriber may subscribe to a check fraud protection program for all the checks in the box.   d. Upon subscription, the check printer adds an indicia, such as 50 to every check printed in the box. If the consumer or business wishes to subscribe to the service after they have placed their check order, the check printer will add the indicia on subsequent check orders. For newly printed checks, the check printer/service provider records the range of numbers of the checks in the box. Typically, a box contains between one hundred (100) and two hundred (200) checks. The check printer sends the box of printed checks to the consumer and includes an insert, such as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , informing the consumer that the checks in the box are included under the check fraud protection plan.   e. Upon the occurrence of an identified check fraud event (as described in greater detail below) against any of the checks in the box, the subscriber reports the occurrence to the Check Fraud Protection service provider using a reimbursement request form to obtain reimbursement directly from the service provider. An exemplary reimbursement request form is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The subscriber also provides the Check Fraud Protection service provider a power of attorney, including an assignment of the right of recovery by the subscriber, to enable the service provider to pursue an appropriate action against the responsible banking or financial institution. An exemplary power of attorney form is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In addition to such reimbursement request form, a police report and/or other proof of fraud is required.   f. Upon notification of such reimbursement request, the Check Fraud Protection service provider directs the check printer to print a new box of checks which, when properly executed by the authorized account holder, will draw funds from a new account that receives the account holder&#39;s funds after the original, compromised account is closed.   

     Check fraud events for which reimbursement may be requested preferably include: 
     Forged Signatures: protection applies to legitimate blank checks that are forged with an authorized signature  37  ( FIG. 1 ), as the payer, and that results in a debit to the checking account. 
     Forged Endorsements: protection applies to a legitimate check that is endorsed and cashed or deposited by someone other than the designated payee  16  ( FIG. 1 ) based upon a fraudulent and false endorsement. Such protection, however, does not apply to a check that bears a legitimate original endorsement that is secondarily fraudulently endorsed. 
     Altered Checks: protection applies to legitimate checks that contain altered information such as payee identification  16 , check amount  31 , or other alteration to benefit the party altering the check. 
     Checks employed by the system and method of the invention described herein preferably include: (i) Check Fraud Protection purchased at the time the original checks are purchased and includes only those checks within a range of numbers purchased in the order at the time of the check fraud protection subscription. Such checks should be printed with an indicia  50  indicating that the checks are, in fact, secured by the check fraud protection program described herein; or (ii) Check Fraud Protection purchased after an initial check order are protected provided that they were printed by the Check Fraud Protection Service Provider&#39;s endorsed vendor and are covered for a period of time specified by the Service Provider in months. For accuracy, the Service Provider maintains a database record of all pertinent information. 
     The check fraud protection program described herein is not an insurance policy although a commercial insurance provider may insure the organization providing such fraud protection. The fraud protection program is designed to facilitate the subscriber&#39;s recovery of losses arising from identified check fraud events, such that the subscriber obtains benefits directly from the Check Fraud Protection service provider by assigning any claims against the responsible banking/financial institution to the service provider. Accordingly, the subscriber obtaining such fraud protection need not and should not seek any reimbursement from the responsible banking/financial institution. 
     The protection may be limited, such as to a maximum of $25,000.00 per order of checks, regardless of the number of checks for which reimbursement requests are presented and/or the number of requests made. For subscriptions taken out after checks have been printed, the protection may be limited to only individually identified check numbers and may be limited to a predetermined period of time, such as a number of months. Protection may apply to personal or business checks purchased according to the program. Such protection does not apply to deposit tickets and checks not included in a box of checks for which a subscription was purchased, even if such checks were also purchased from the same check printer. Protection does not apply to checks printed by a vendor other than by the Check Fraud Protection Service Provider&#39;s endorsed vendor. Furthermore, protection may be limited to only frauds committed in the country where the consumer is a resident. 
     Only designated losses are reimbursable pursuant to the check fraud protection program. The amount reimbursable includes all actual amounts paid from the subscriber&#39;s account and all bank/financial institution/retailer fees arising from the fraud, not to exceed the limits of such check fraud protection program. 
     The invention has been described with references to a preferred embodiment. While specific values, relationships, materials and steps have been set forth for purposes of describing concepts of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the basic concepts and operating principles of the invention as broadly described. It should be recognized that, in the light of the above teachings, those skilled in the art can modify those specifics without departing from the invention taught herein. Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with such underlying concept. It is intended to include all such modifications, alternatives and other embodiments insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein. Consequently, the present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.