Message to Businesses - Security Features on
Government of Canada Cheques
Government of Canada cheques have many security features to help
you tell the difference between a good cheque and a counterfeit.
Although these cheques are rarely counterfeited, you should know
that you will have to absorb the financial loss if you cash an invalid
one. You can, however, take steps to protect yourself by becoming
familiar with the two main security features that help prevent
counterfeiting:
- Tri-Maple Leaf watermark
– they appear in several places on the cheque and are best seen by holding
the cheque up to a light and looking through the back
- Security fibres – they
appear randomly on the front and back of the cheque (some are
visible under normal lighting, some of these glow under ultra-violet
light, and others are visible only under ultraviolet light)
In addition to counterfeits, you should also watch for fraudulently
endorsed or altered cheques. Use the traditional methods of cheque
verification: as a minimum,ask for photo identification, compare
signatures, and ensure that information has not been added to or
erased from the cheque.
Remember, you don't have to cash Government of Canada cheques.
If you have any doubts about a cheque presented to you by a customer,
you can always ask that he or she take it to a financial institution
for cashing.
For more information, please contact the Receiver General for Canada
by e-mail.
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