The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-12-12
- n a
STEPPING AHEAD or
THE. BANK CROOK
Bankers Association Official
Gives Rules to Foil Criminals
and Avoid Loss.
BY JAMES :. BAUM.
Manager Protective Department
American Bankers Association

American Bankers Association
The direct cost of all crimes Il
| this country has now reached tt
| highest peak. Statistics reveal start
ling increases in nearly every typt
OF crime during the past ten years
| The total financial loss through thu
operations OF criminals IL estimated
at more than $500. 0o0,e 600 for THU
year. A few OF the items follow:
Embezxlement ...............$ ,0o
Burglary, larceny, and petty S. !. y
Forge esI.s including worthless
and bogus checks. ....... lOo. 900. ~
Seaport robberies. piracies
and customs frauds s.... ln0.vUv.y"
Railroad thefts zo U00 w ~
Stock frauds ............... Z, lo0 VIC W
Insurance frauds s...........f lsVgu. vsy ~ ~
Arson .........-.......... sgio oSE M
miscellaneous ..........ss.e. He,SvV.vV
am giving cold figures, not to star
tie any one unless it be toward more
extreme care ip handling and safe
guarding funds and valuables Righ
here let me quote rules to help fol
criminals known as CHECK passers'
or 'scratchers";; they will help yon L
avoid serious loss:
/. Never write checks with penci!
Use pen and ink or. II possible. chec'
protector.
Fill In all blank spaces.
s. Don't erase Errors should be cor
rected by writing a new check and de
ssroying those Incorrectly written a,
stranger and never cash a sti'ahger
check without an indorsersent which yo.
have positively verified
s. Make checks payable TO cash o
bearer only when you personally pre-
sent them at your bank. otherwise US
the name Of the pefson you intend shs
receive payment.
6. Never place your signature alone ..
an Endorsement on checks you intend I
deposit. Write above or below your sig
nature the words For deposit only :"
Z. Never sign blank checks. II you eS
Dect to be absent any length OF time ope
|. your employee or agent:
8. Guard your cancelled vouchers
ycu would valid check. leaving non
where they may be easily taken
0. Keep your check books secure
locked up and be careful how and whef
you sign Tor exhibit your signature.
10. Bewere Of the magic of the wor
can be duFlicated almost as easily as an
II. watch checks which APPARENT
pear the mixers ~ n. or olheI loi
forged than She full sigma taire
H. Safeguard your checks as you woaaL
your money. Tor they rep~es Il money.
49, Deposit Slips provide Y !. fs'i %;
name, usually upon the upper line.
Those writtent Incorrectly should be d.
gtroyed as otherwise your sgna;ure wi
BE- available fof fraudulent use You ca,
amounts deposited and then 'printin
your account name.
The bankers campaign for ever.
bady to pay by check" has born
fruit. It has been estimated that t
day more than 95 per cent. OF III
business OF the u. S. is transacted
the use OF checks or other credit il
struments. That means about sir al
one-half billion checks will be it,.
by bank depositors In this countr
during 1924 and they will total about
$500, 900 100000 in amount. or one hun
dred times the money In circulation
Banks War ON Crooks
The average hank deposition wher
queried as to what his bank does t,
protect his deposits, will probably te.
you they are kept In great vault anr
that armed watchmen are employed
as well, as an elaborate and eficienl
burglary and robbery alarm system
He may not know that the 230o
banks comprising the American Banl
ers Association have constantly ana
conveniently available an army q
highly trained specialists who wn~e
continuous and relentless warfar,
against the bank criminal Thea,
operatives are within easy reach Of
any member bank Criminals k'.o
that Il they attack a member BANK
they are attacking one OF the most
powerful and effective protective or
ganizations In existence
Another medium by which bankers
prevent many financial grimes or
losses IL the warnings continually
broadcast from the American Bankers
Association and :oity.eight state
bankers associations. These warnings
keep the trap constantly set and carry
out the Associations plan Of crime,
prevention as contrtsted with detec
ton.