Free Letter to Notify a Check Verification Company of Stolen Checks or a Fraud Alert

The contact information for the various check verification companies is listed below. You will need to do additional research to determine any information not included below.

National Check Fraud Center
P.O. Box 80171
Charleston, SC 29416
1-843-571-2143
cbruce@ckfraud.org

Global Payments (formerly known as CheckRite)
P.O. Box 661158
Chicago, IL 60666
1-800-780-2305 or 1-800-638-4600

CrossCheck
1-800-552-1900 or 1-707-586-0551

TeleCheck
P.O. Box 4451
Houston, TX 77210-4451
1-800-366-2425 or 1-800-710-9898

Chex Systems
1-800-428-9623

International Check Services (formerly National Processing Co.)
1-800-526-5380

Shared Check Authorization Network (SCAN)
1-800-262-7771 or 1-800-296-0170
580 Herndon Parkway, Suite 100
Herndon, Virginia 20170

Certegy Check Services (formerly Equifax Services)
1-800-437-5120 or 1-800-337-5689

The check verification companies may follow up with you if they need additional information. Therefore, it is essential that all of the contact information included in your letter is accurate.

The check verification company may require that you include proof of your identity theft incident such as photocopies of the ID Theft Affidavit, a filed Police Report, or other documentation.

Photocopies, not the original copies, of any relevant documents should be included with the letter. You should keep a copy of all written communications and maintain a written summary of all oral communications.

If you have had your checks stolen or if there has been fraudulent use of your account, you need to report the incident to the following companies:

• TeleCheck (800) 366-2425 or (800) 710-9898.

You should call these companies prior to sending the letter. If you know that a particular merchant has received a stolen check from you, contact the verification company that the merchant uses immediately. When you call the companies you should inform them of the fraud, request that they notify their customers of the fraud, and find out what documentation will be needed. It is essential that you notify the companies immediately in order to stop the fraud as soon as possible.

When you call the companies they will inform you as to what documents are needed and where the documents should be sent. After you find out that information, you can then send them a letter with the documents attached. In general, most of the companies require that you send them at least the following information:

• Your name and contact information.
  
• A copy of the Police Report.
  
• Copy of Affidavit of Forgery that was filed with the bank.
  
• A copy of your driver's license or other form of identification.

Depending on the company, additional documentation may be required. Therefore, it is essential that you contact the companies prior to sending the letter to find out what documents will need to be included.

The purpose of this letter is to notify various check verification companies about stolen checks or other fraudulent use of your checking account. Check verification companies are used by various banks and retailers to insure that the checks that their customers write are valid. Therefore, once you notify the verification companies they will contact the companies that use their databases and inform them that there has been fraudulent use of your account. They will then determine if the identity thief has passed bad checks in your name and inform the companies that they are not to accept any checks from that account.

Note: You should contact the verification companies immediately and use this letter as a follow-up. Read Important First Steps for a list of check verification company telephone numbers you can call first.

1. The letter should be signed, but it is not necessary that the signature be witnessed or notarized.

2. Be sure to attach any evidence of the identity theft incident, if applicable.

3. Retain a copy of the letter for your records. Keep the original copies of any enclosures, unless you are required to send the originals. If you send an original, keep a copy.

4. Although not required, sending the letter in a manner that can be tracked (e.g., overnight courier or certified mail/return receipt requested) is highly advisable. It may assist you in the event you need evidence of receipt of the letter.

5. After a reasonable amount of time has passed, follow up to make sure that any request action was actually taken.