Many businesses continue to rely on paper checks for vendor payments and B2B transactions because they offer straightforward record-keeping and familiar workflows. This reliance has not gone unnoticed by criminals, who have adapted traditional fraud techniques to exploit the physical nature of paper-based payments. Incorporating security features directly into check stock can reveal tampering attempts before funds are lost.
The Current Landscape of Financial Fraud
Fraud tactics have evolved significantly in recent years, transforming traditional payment methods into prime targets for sophisticated criminal operations. The shift to remote work and digital communication channels during the pandemic created new vulnerabilities that criminals have continued to exploit.
Rising Threats in B2B Payments
The scope of check fraud expanded dramatically after 2020, with Treasury Department data showing U.S. check fraud increased by 385% following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Criminals intercept checks from mailboxes and business mail streams, then alter payee names or payment amounts before depositing them. Other criminals create counterfeit checks using legitimate account details obtained through data breaches or insider access.
The 2026 AFP survey revealed that 76% of organizations reported experiencing attempted or actual payment fraud in 2025, with checks remaining the most vulnerable payment method. Among respondents, 63% dealt with attempted or actual check fraud during the year.
The Hidden Costs of Check Fraud
Counterfeit checks, check washing and payee forgery redirect funds before most businesses detect the alteration. Federal Reserve research revealed specific patterns in the proliferation of these tactics, finding that 32% of surveyed financial institutions reported increases in counterfeit checks, 21% saw jumps in check washing and 18% reported growth in payee forgery.
Financial losses represent only part of the total damage. Businesses often face the need to repay vendors whose payments were intercepted while internal teams spend hours investigating the incident and implementing corrective measures. The Truist analysis of the AFP data showed that 20% of organizations that lost money to payment fraud in 2024 were unable to recover any of the stolen funds.
Top Benefits of Upgrading Your Checks
High-security checks incorporate features that make common fraud tactics more difficult to execute successfully by creating visible or chemical evidence when someone attempts to copy or alter a check. These security elements help employees at both the issuing company and the receiving financial institution verify authenticity before processing payment.
Visible security features include watermarks, microprinted borders and specialized background patterns that standard copiers cannot reproduce accurately. Chemical protection reveals stains or discoloration when solvents are applied to remove ink.
These combined defenses reduce the likelihood that altered checks will clear undetected, translating to fewer unrecoverable losses and greater confidence when issuing vendor payments. Financial teams can process checks knowing that multiple layers of security make unauthorized alterations significantly easier to identify during routine verification procedures.
Essential Security Features to Look For
True watermarks embedded in the paper stock help verify authenticity because standard copiers and scanners cannot reproduce them with the same clarity or depth. Microprinted borders use text so small that photocopiers render it illegible, making copies easy to distinguish from originals.
Heat-sensitive ink changes color or reveals hidden text when warmed by a finger or another heat source, providing employees and bank personnel with a quick verification method that requires no special equipment. Chemically reactive paper and wash-detection areas reveal stains or discoloration when someone attempts to remove payment information using solvents.
Anti-copy backgrounds display warning text, such as “VOID,” when duplicated through standard copying or scanning processes. This feature makes unauthorized copies immediately identifiable to anyone reviewing the document.
Trusted Suppliers for High-Security Business Checks
Partnering with a reputable supplier ensures checks include the necessary built-in defenses to protect against fraud. Established providers offer proven security features and the expertise to match protection levels to specific business needs.
1. RELYCO
Founded in 1989, RELYCO supplies paper-based solutions to businesses across the U.S. Its portfolio includes secure business checks in more than 50 layouts, allowing companies to find formats that integrate with their existing accounting processes and software systems.
RELYCO develops products to address the security concerns of different industries, creating purpose-built solutions that target specific vulnerabilities. Fast shipping and responsive customer service reinforce its “you can rely on us” approach to business relationships. This combination of technical expertise and customer focus has made RELYCO a trusted resource for organizations seeking reliable fraud protection.
2. Deluxe
Deluxe offers standard and high-security business checks in both laser and manual formats. Its high-security options use anti-copy technology and foil holograms to make unauthorized duplication easier to detect during routine review.
Additional protections include heat-sensitive ink, true watermarks and chemical-wash detection areas that reveal potential alterations. These features work together to provide multiple verification points for employees and financial institutions.
3. CheckDepot
CheckDepot supplies high-security computer checks designed for businesses that print payments through accounting software. Its checks are compatible with platforms such as QuickBooks, Sage and Zoho Books, allowing businesses to maintain their existing payment workflows without disruption.
Available security features include hidden images, heat-sensitive ink, chemically reactive paper and true watermarks. These protections help deter alteration and forgery while integrating seamlessly with digital accounting systems.
Safeguard Your Financial Future
Check fraud continues to evolve as criminals develop new techniques to exploit paper-based payment systems. Basic check stock no longer provides adequate protection for businesses that rely on checks for vendor payments and B2B transactions.
Secure checks provide both visible and hidden protections that help detect unauthorized alterations before funds leave an account. Businesses should review their current check stock and choose a trusted supplier that provides security features suited to their payment processes and industry-specific vulnerabilities.
