Businesses are prone to fraud just as individuals are. Taking precautions to avoid mail and check fraud makes good business sense and can save your credit rating and your business. The following are some basic measures you can take to help ensure your business’s standing remains strong.
When possible, hand-deliver important financial documents and large cheques directly to your courier or an official mailbox. Do not leave these in easily accessible or overnight boxes. Treat them as if you were depositing them in a bank. This will reduce the possibility of them being interceded and tampered with.
If you have not done so already, consider paying bills online with a reputable and secure electronic bill paying service. This offers you proof of payment and allows you to track payments.
Be sure to take advantage of online banking services that allow you to monitor transactions. Restrict the amount of people in your company who have access to important account numbers and information.
Monitoring your transactions regularly will alert you to irregularities and unexpected changes early so that you can take proactive steps to avoid any further fraudulent charges.
Keep blank cheques in a secure location. If more than one person has access to or power to write cheques, make sure there is a system for recording all check numbers and the appropriate initials in a logbook. Keep the log close to the blank cheques. This will help you track who purchased what and for what reason.
Set up a system to reconcile your bank statements with your accounting records at regular intervals. Consider using a credit card issued by your bank. Large bank institutions offer online tracking of your credit transactions. This will allow you to monitor activity and find any irregularities quickly.
