Traveler's checks are used by travelers, especially visitors to foreign countries. Such checks were introduced in 1891 by the American Express Co. as a medium of exchange and remain a safe way to carry money for purchases. The redeemable checks can be purchased from a bank in various denominations. Sometimes, counterfeit traveler checks surface and make it hard to distinguish the real from the fake. Like paper currency, traveler’s checks have security features. There are ways to verify the validity of a traveler’s check.
Examine the paper. Counterfeit currency is often thicker than the real deal. Run your hands over the length to check for a raised texture. A watermark should appear somewhere in the middle of the currency. When held under light, watermarks usually depict an image or pattern of varying colors to ward off counterfeit activity. When under light, there might be a translucent image for a real traveler’s check. The images vary by each institution. Inspect all areas thoroughly. Educate yourself with the appropriate marks of each brand.
Request identification from the presenter and examine carefully. Beware of fake pictures and identity theft. Ask for a thumbprint if necessary and point to the area to be signed. Make sure all signatures match. Trust your instincts and check out anything suspicious.
Call the issuing institution. Find out when, where and by whom the check was purchased. Verify that it is from an approved issue of traveler’s checks. If necessary, go to a bank and let a bank representative verify the check's legitimacy.
