Show MAIL BOX THEFTS AID CHECK FORGERS american bankers association in nationwide warning exposes methods and gives rules to combat them NEW YORK active operations in many cities ot mail box Ih levea who open bank to customers containing details ot their accounts and cancelled checks showing their banking signatures and use this material in perpetrating forgeries hare led the american bankers association to issue a nationwide earning to its members with instruct eions tor combating this form ot crime the warping as sent out by james E baum in charge of the associations protective department says heavy losses are being sustained through cancelled vouchers and statements stolen from the mall boxes of bank depositors in apartment and et fice buildings thai divulging the depositors po balances and supplying models for forged checks As ft step to put cui tomen on guard against these methods banks are urged to ly every depositor to whom they mail statements of deposit accounts on the last business day of each month to notify them promptly ac such state ment are not received bj the close 0 the next day also hanks should educate depoll tors to safeguard blank checks and cancelled vouchers Tou chers as they would money such paper stolen by forgers soon puts real money in their hands it all blank checks and cancelled vouchers Tou chers were securely kept in safes instead of filing cabinets or desks the check crooks would be denied their chief stock in trade namely genuine blank checks and signatures warn ings to depositors against leaving blank or cancelled checks accessible to sneak thieves or burglars should be sent out at once estimates broadcast by surety companies indicate that individuals merchants hotels and others outside of banking are shouldering more than 99 per cent of the total amount of forgery losses the bulk ot forgery loss on checos is sustained by those who are willing to risk accepting them without reliable proof of identity or title of the presenter J years ago the protective depart the american bankers association adopted the slogan strangers are not always crooks but crooks are usually strangers if those outside of banking could be prevailed upon to observe this rule and think about it when considering accepting a check tor their merchandise or services tor which they are also asked to give a substantial sum in cash in change one of the biggest aids to the forgery busl ness would be denied the crooks |