Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!pprg.unm.edu!hc!lll-winken!uunet!philmtl!philabs!ttidca!hollombe
From: hollombe@ttidca.TTI.COM (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Laser Printable Checks?
Message-ID: <4387@ttidca.TTI.COM>
Date: 8 May 89 21:31:50 GMT
References: <12810@jade.BBN.COM> <555@lzaz.ATT.COM> <4354@ttidca.TTI.COM> <1384@ncrcan.Toronto.NCR.COM>
Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcb.tti.com (The Polymath)
Organization: The Cat Factory
Lines: 30

In article <1384@ncrcan.Toronto.NCR.COM> brian@ncrcan.Toronto.NCR.COM (Brian Onn) writes:
}In article <4354@ttidca.TTI.COM> hollombe@ttidcb.tti.com (The Polymath) writes:
}I am under the impression that checks (hereinafter referred to as 'cheques')
}can be printed on anything, in any size, and the banks must honour it.  This
}is what makes it possible for those huge marketing gimmick cheques, made out
}for charity by big organisations on 2 x 5 foot cardboard.
}
}Thus you can write cheques on toilet paper, aluminum foil, or the back of
}your lunch banana peel!

It's true.  However, checks like this are pretty obvious and require
special processing by the bank (no MICR, among other things).  You aren't
likely to cash one at your local market.

On the other hand, modern technology gives us the ability to laser-print
checks that are practically indistinguishable from the real thing,
complete with scanned in signature.  You can already get colored toner
cartridges, and full color printers are probably under development as we
speak.  Color copiers are already causing problems with counterfeit money.

Just as photographs will soon cease to be admissible in court as evidence,
printed checks may have to go the way of the dodo as a medium of exchange,
and for the same reason.  Digitally altered or created fakes are
impossible to detect.

-- 
The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, hollombe@ttidca.tti.com)  Illegitimati Nil
Citicorp(+)TTI                                                 Carborundum
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (213) 452-9191, x2483
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