Check fraud protection techniques

• US 20060145469A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ADP, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ADP, Inc.
• Inventors: Mills, Patricia, Lubrino, Enrico, Piplani, Paul Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,384,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/72
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/916 Fraud or tamper detecting

Abstract

A security feature and method for verifying the authenticity of commercial paper. In one embodiment, pearlescent ink is added to a portion of commercial paper stock. A recipient can then tilt the commercial paper stock to view the pearlescent ink mark, design, or spot from different angles, causing the pearlescent ink to appear different colors and verifying the authenticity of the commercial paper. Further, according to another embodiment, thermochromic ink is applied to a portion of commercial paper stock. A recipient can then apply heat to the commercial paper stock in the area of the ink mark, thereby causing the thermochromic ink to disappear or change colors.

Claims

1. A fraud resistant commercial paper stock having a pearlescent ink mark.

2. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 1 wherein the pearlescent ink mark substantially comprises a shield.

3. A fraud resistant commercial paper stock having a first ink mark, comprising pearlescent ink, and further having a second ink mark, comprising thermochromic ink.

4. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 3 further comprising printed instructions for testing the second ink mark, design, or spot.

5. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 3 wherein the second ink mark comprises the alphanumeric “

ADP.”

6. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 3 wherein the commercial paper stock further comprises instructions to test the ink mark, designation, or design comprising a thermochromic ink.

7. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 3 wherein the pearlescent ink mark substantially comprises a shield

8. A method for verifying the authenticity of commercial paper comprising the steps of:

a. providing a commercial paper stock having an ink mark, spot, or design comprising pearlescent ink;

b. distributing the commercial paper stock;

c. viewing the commercial paper stock at more than one angle to verify the pearlescent property of the ink mark, spot, or design.

9. A fraud resistant commercial paper stock comprising:

a. a first ink mark comprising a pearlescent ink;

b. a second ink mark comprising a thermochromic ink;

c. at least one letter or group of characters printed in microprint along at least one border of the commercial paper stock;

d. at least one mark comprising an ink comprising two components, operable to be printed on one side and bleed through to a second side;

e. at least one character in simulated embossed print; and

f. at least one character created in pantograph.

10. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 9, wherein the first ink mark further comprises the shape of a shield.

11. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 10, wherein the second ink mark further comprises the characters “

ADP.”

12. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 11, wherein the at least one letter or group of letters printed in microprint along at least one border of the commercial paper stock further comprises the repeated characters “

ADP.”

13. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 12, wherein the at least one character created in pantograph comprises the word “

void.”

14. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 12, further comprising at least one artificial watermark operable to be readily viewed only when the commercial paper stock is held at an angle not equal to ninety degrees to the viewer.

15. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 9, further comprising a third ink mark comprising a thermochromic ink, the third ink mark placed on an opposite side of the commercial paper from the second ink mark.

16. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 9, wherein the second ink mark comprises the letters ADP.

17. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 9, wherein the second ink mark comprises the shape of a padlock.

18. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 9, further comprising a prismatic print.

19. The fraud resistant commercial paper stock of claim 9, further comprising a simulated prismatic print.