Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpfcso!hpfcbig!bame
From: bame@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM (Paul Bame)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: Re: Computer Readable Font (for acct numbers on Bank Checks) wanted
Message-ID: <11250001@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM>
Date: 21 May 91 00:07:05 GMT
References: <1991May2.191802.2778@beaver.cs.washington.edu>
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 23

> There are several firms that sell special toners for the SX and CX engines
> that are MICR (the funny characters) magnetic.  You can use these to
> create checks that will work legitamately.

Lots of toner is magnetic - LJ+ stock toner for example.  It's probably
not magnetic *enough* - or maybe these special toner cartridges aren't
special and people are paying too much.

> One could concieve of someone taking one of the generic deposit slips
> from the bank (the ones with the account number that causes an
> exception, and requires a clerk to key the information in manually,
> supplied for those who have forgotten theirs)  copying it, and
> printing thier own account number on the bottom.  The placing a
> batch back in the bin.  Anyone making a deposit will be depositing to
> the criminals' account.

'tis been done - long ago - even before laser printers.  I did a report
on computer crime in 1976 and mentioned it - forget the reference but
it's a book by somebody maybe with initials D. P. who worked at,
I think, SRI.

			-Paul Bame
			bame@hubble.sde.hp.com	N0KCL