The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-12-04


The total financial loss through the
operations Of criminals is estimated
at more than $500 100000 for this
year. A few OF the items follow:
Ernbezzlement .............$ 12O. 000. 900
Burglary. larceny. and petty !. -
Forg segT,s including worthless 0'O0'S
and bogus checks 100. COOL 0o
Seaport robberies. ptracies
and customs frauds. ..... 1000, 90o
Railroad thefts .............. Is, 009. 900
stock frauds ........s.....s. 1.IvJ-oy9,v0y
Insurance frauds ....-....-.. LOCO, 900, 900
Miscellaneous ..... rs, 900, 600
am giving cold figures, not to star
tie any one unless it be toward more
extreme care in handling and safe
guarding funds and valuables. Right
here let me quote rules to help foil
criminals known as check passers"
or ''scratchers"; they wiz help you to
avoid serious loss:
L Never write checks with a pencil
Use pen and ink or. If possible. check
protector.
g. Don't erase. Errors should be cor
rected by writing new check and de-
stroying those Incorrectly written
4 Never give a blank check to a
stranger and never cash stranger 3
check without an Endorsement which you
have positively verified
s. Make checks payable to cash OF
bearer" only when you personally pre-
sent them at your bank. Otherwise use
the name OF the person you intend shall
receive payment
g. Never place your signature alone az
an Endorsement on checks you intend 70
deposit. Write above or below your sig
nature the words For deposit only,
T. Never sign blank checks If You ex-
pect to AG absent any length Of time open
separate account subject to check Of
your employee or agent
s. Guard your cancelled vouchers as
you would a valid check. leaving none
where they may be easily taken
g. Keep your check books securely
locked up and be careful how and where
you sign or exhibit your signature.
10. Beware Of the magic Of the word
certified" Ordinary certflcation stamps
can be duplicated almost as easily as any
other rubber stamp.
IL watch checks which apparently
of approval They are more easily
forged than the fun signature.
IL. Safeguard your checks as you would
your money, for they represent money.
10. Deposit slips provide space for your
name, usually upon the upper lines
Those written incorrectly should be de-
stroyed as otherwise your signature VIII
be available for fraudulent use You can
prevent loss by first writing the detail of
amounts deposited and then printing
your account name
The bankers campaign for every
body to pay by check" has borne
fruit It has been estimated that to
day more than 95 per cent of the
business Of the o. S. is transacted by
the use OF checks or other credit IN
struments. That means about six and
pne-half billion checks will be written
by bank depositors In this country
during 1924 and they viii total about
$500, 600 100000 in amount, or one hun
bred times the money In circulation.
Banks War on Crooks
The average bank depositor when
queried as to what his bank does %
protect his deposits, viii probably tell
you they are kept IN q great vault and
that armed watchmen are employed,
as well as an elaborate and efficient
burglary and robbery alarm system
He may not know that the 23, 600
banks comprising the American Bank
ers Association have constantly and
conveniently available an army Of
highly trained specialists who wage 3
continuous and relentless warfare
against the bank criminal. These
operatives are within easy reach OF
any member bank. Criminals know
that If they attack member bank
they are attacking one of the most
powerful and effective protective or
CARNATIONS In existence.
Another medium by which bankers
prevent many financial crimes or
losses is the warnings continually
broadcast from the American Bankers
Association and forty-eight state
bankers associations, These warnings
keep the trap constantly set and carry
out the Associations plan OF crime
prevention as contrasted with detec-
ton