Fraud detection for treasury checks

A method of assessing risk, comprising:

• receiving, by a risk assessment system via one or more communications networks, check information associated with a treasury check from a receiving institution, wherein:
• data sent over the one or more communications networks is encrypted;
• the check information comprises a first payee name printed on the treasury check, a check number of the treasury check, an amount of the treasury check, and a routing number of the treasury check;
• and
• the receiving institution comprises a financial institution at which the treasury check has been presented for redemption;
• identifying, by the risk assessment system, a treasury department that issued the treasury check using the routing number of the treasury check;
• sending, by the risk assessment system via the one or more communications networks, at least a portion of the check information to the treasury department that issued the treasury check;
• receiving, by the risk assessment system, in response to sending the at least a portion of the check information, via the one or more communication networks, a second payee name from the treasury department, wherein the second payee name was printed on the treasury check issued by the treasury department;
• and
• providing, by the risk assessment system via the one or more communications networks, a response to the receiving institution, the response comprising one or both of the second payee name and an indication of whether the first payee name and the second payee name match, wherein the one or both of the second payee name and the indication of whether the first payee name and the second payee name match are used to determine whether the treasury check is fraudulent.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

• receive, via one or more communications networks, check information associated with a treasury check from a receiving institution, wherein:
• data sent over the one or more communications networks is encrypted;
• the check information comprises a first payee name printed on the treasury check, a check number of the treasury check, an amount of the treasury check, and a routing number of the treasury check;
• and
• the receiving institution comprises a financial institution at which the treasury check has been presented for redemption;
• identify a treasury department that issued the treasury check using the routing number of the treasury check;
• send, via the one or more communications networks, at least a portion of the check information to a treasury department that issued the treasury check;
• receive, in response to sending the at least a portion of the check information, via the one or more communication networks, a second payee name from the treasury department, wherein the second payee name was printed on the treasury check issued by the treasury department;
• and
• provide, via the one or more communications networks, a response to the receiving institution, the response comprising one or both of the second payee name and an indication of whether the first payee name and the second payee name match, wherein the one or both of the second payee name and the indication of whether the first payee name and the second payee name match are used to determine whether the treasury check is fraudulent.