Fraud consists of a wide range of criminal activities that utilize false or misleading information for profit or to otherwise gain unfair advantage. Business related fraud stems from a number of sources, both internal and external to a company, and takes a variety of forms, from identity fraud and mortgage fraud, to securities and equities fraud. The consequences of these actions vary greatly from minor inconvenience to damages and disruptions extending into the millions of dollars. While many companies are adamant about keeping security breaches out of the public eye, the best way to avoid negative press is to close the vulnerabilities the lead to the perpetration of fraud in the first place.
What You Can Do
Because fraud stems from such a diverse range of criminal activities, there is no “one size fits all” approach to combating it. However, by ensuring the security of printed material – the alteration or counterfeiting of which is a primary source for fraud – companies can help dry up the means by which they, or their resources are exploited. Preventing fraud at the print source depends on the utilization of a number of security techniques that help ensure document originality and information authenticity.
Electronic Measures
Because of the vast attention paid to security in the electronic realm, online forms and documents are generally more secure than their printed counterparts. However, in cases where documents must be printed, other technology must be employed to eliminate the possibility of tampering.
Special Marks
Watermarks, hidden logos and special print patterns can help identify a document as coming from a specific source. Though this may prove the originality of the document, information can still be altered through other means, and thus, requires further layers of security.
Serialization
By giving each document a unique identity, it becomes increasingly difficult to duplicate printed material en masse. Serialization also affords the opportunity to track heavily trafficked documents as they make their way through the value chain.
Physical Security
Securing documents physically is basic means to prevent fraud threats. Lockable file cabinets, safes and other storage units can keep printed material protected when not in use.
Secure Disposal (Shredding)
Shredding is an indispensable part of any print security plan, but is not sufficient by itself. While the safe disposal of sensitive documents is a fundamental precaution, these documents must be safeguarded from fraudulent use while out in an unprotected environment.
Copy-Proof Technology
Copiers are omnipresent in the modern business environment, and serve as easily accessible tools for counterfeiting and alteration. Technology that prevents the duplication of sensitive information should be considered a requirement.
Enterprise Rights Management
Securing documents via electronic access controls that can define who may access and print specific documents is a key component of a comprehensive approach to information risk management, and can be a great help in reducing overall levels of enterprise risk.
Print Encryption
Unable to be reproduced or decoded without a special authenticator, encrypted print brings the protection from the electronic world out to the physical. It provides one of the most efficient means to cut off fraud before it can be propagated through other activity.
How We Help
AuthentiGuard On-Demand cannot prevent fraud itself, but, through its copy-proofing and encrypting technologies, it becomes a foundational layer of defense against the document misuse that often leads to fraud. By securing documents and encrypting their contents at the point of print, AuthentiGuard ensures ubiquitous authentication throughout the entire lifecycle of “feeder” documents like birth certificates, real estate titles, appraisal certificates and others. In concert with behavioral detection, biometric and other technologies, AuthentiGuard can also help empower the entire value chain to verify document authenticity, thereby undermining the primary avenue for fraud.