ANSI X9-51-1998 pdf download American National Standard for Financial Services X9.51 – 1998 Fraud Deterrent Icon Standard
1 Scope and Purpose
1.1 Scope The intent of this standard is to establish the location and meaning of a security feature identifier and provide guidance on document security features to acceptors of checks. This identifier indicates the presence of security technologies used to prevent copying, alterations, casual counterfeiting or the use of any fraudulent methods of defrauding the author or paying financial institution. Although the fraud countermeasures detailed in this document are not intended to address issues associated with forgery and embezzlement, they may have some utility should counterfeit or alteration techniques be employed.
1.2 Purpose Various printing technologies have evolved to the point where almost anyone can “manufacture” a check. Check fraud has increased as these printing technologies have become accessible. In order to curtail this trend, methods have to be developed to protect checks. Prevention and detection are both required. Prevention requires the incorporation of fraud deterrent features to determine whether or not a check may be fraudulent. Checks designed to support prevention and detection will serve to combat check fraud. This standard deals primarily with security features that can be incorporated into the design of the check, the production process, or choice of materials. It covers these subjects in detail, and thereby expands on the X9/TG-8 publication, Check Security Guideline. The guideline deals with a broader range of security methods, including the detection of potentially fraudulent documents at the point of sale or place of deposit through magnetic reading of the check code line and automatic reference to positive or negative databases. In addition, the guideline outlines the benefits of software systems such as positive pay, an effective anti-fraud tool.
2 Reference American National Standards and Technical Guidelines
This standard is intended for use in conjunction with the following American National Standards and ASC X9 Technical Guidelines. When these standards are superseded by a revision, the revision shall apply:
ASC X9/TG-2 – 1990, Understanding and Designing Checks
ASC X9/TG-6 – 1995, Quality Control of MICR Documents
ASC X9/TG-8 – 1995, Check Security Guideline
ANS X9.7 – 1995, Bank Check Background and Convenience Amount Field
ANS X9.13 – 1995, Specifications for Placement and Location of MICR Printing
ANS X9.18 – 1998, Paper Specifications for Checks
ANS X9.27 – 1995, Print and Test Specifications for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
ANS X9.29 – 1998, Check Carrier Envelope Specifications
ANS X9.37 – 1995, Specifications for Electronic Check Exchange