Experts Say...Don't Abbreviate 2020!
- Debora Sanders
- Jan 27, 2022
- 1 min read
Hadn't thought about this until I read this article in my Realtor Magazinge. Good advise to protect yourself against fraud in 2020.
Security officials are warning consumers to not abbreviate “2020” in official documents because they say it can be an easy way for scammers to commit forgery. They say the abbreviation makes it easy for scammers to change out the numbers on paperwork. For example, if you write a date like “1/3/20,” scammers could change it to “1/3/2000” or 1/3/2021.” Instead, write out the full year as “1/3/2020” or, better yet, write out the name of the month as well to read "January 3, 2020."
Why would scammers want to change a date?
They could seek to establish an unpaid debt
Attempt to cash an old check
Alter expiration dates on documents and contracts
Extend expiration dates on documents and contracts
Police departments across the country have urged the public to write out the year. "This is very sound advice and should be considered when signing any legal or professional document,” the East Millinocket Police Department in Maine wrote in a Facebook post. “It could potentially save you some trouble down the road.”
Source: Realtor Magazine, January 3, 2020