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Finance
May 18, 2012

New Government Cheques Contain Enhanced Security Features

The Provincial Government today announced that it has begun using a more advanced quality of paper for printing government cheques which enhances security by eliminating the possibility of copying, scanning and printing fraudulent cheques. Vendors will also be able to more easily identify counterfeits.

The new paper stock has security features added during the production process such as a true watermark and staining that will occur if certain chemicals are applied. Further information on these features can be found in the backgrounder below.

“We have used the same quality of paper stock for cheques since 2007 and it can now be purchased at essentially any business office supply company,” said the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board. “Since then, the available security features offered by suppliers have significantly improved and this new stock provides a more modern and secure alternative.”

The Provincial Government encourages those who have not already done so to sign up for Electronic Funds Transfer by completing the form which can be found online at www.fin.gov.nl.ca/fin/forms/.

“We have been very successful in moving to electronic payments over the past number of years which reduces our environmental footprint,” said Minister Marshall. “Having said that, we still produce hundreds of thousands of paper cheques each year and we have an obligation to prevent fraud wherever possible. This is a smart way to accomplish that.”

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Media contact:
Luke Joyce
Director of Communications
Department of Finance
709-729-6830, 725-4165
lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca 

BACKGROUNDER
New Security Features on Government Cheques

The new paper stock for cheques being used by the Provincial Government contains a number of security features that help prevent fraud. These features include:

2012 05 18                              9:35 a.m.

 
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