Patent ID: 7040539

Claim:
A method of using a negotiable instrument with protection to avoid acceptance of a fraudulent check at the point and time of transaction between a merchant and a check writer, the method comprising: receiving a negotiable instrument having a pre-printed bar code from a check writer, a photo identification, and a pre-printed signature; reading the bar code on the negotiable instrument at a point and time of the transaction between the merchant and the check writer and deriving personal identification information about the writer from the bar code; comparing the personal identification information from the bar code with information provided by the check writer at the point and time of the transaction between the merchant and the check writer; comparing the photo identification upon the negotiable instrument to the writer at the point and time of the transaction between the merchant and the check writer; and comparing the pre-printed signature upon the negotiable instrument to a signature placed by the writer upon the negotiable instrument at the point and time of the transaction between the merchant and the check writer; determining by the merchant whether to accept or refuse the check at the point and time of transaction based on the steps of comparing the personal identification information from the bar code with the information provided by the check writer, comparing the photo identification upon the negotiable instrument to the writer, and comparing the pre-printed signature upon the negotiable instrument to the signature placed by the writer upon the negotiable instrument; if the merchant determines to accept the check, processing the check to complete the transaction.