STOP ABBREVIATING 2020. IT MAY LEAVE YOU OPEN TO FRAUD AND COULD COST.

This year’s abbreviation is easily changeable and could be used against you.

The new year is giving scammers an easy way to forge documents, but you can protect yourself by stop abbreviating the year.

The concern is that scammers could easily manipulate a document dated 1/1/20 into 1/1/2000 or 1/1/2021. Scammers could use the method to establish an unpaid debt or to attempt to cash an old check.

You agree to make payments beginning on 1/15/20. They could show that you owe since 1/15/2019 and try to collect extra money. A check dated 1/1/20 could become 1/1/2021, next year trying to make the check active again.

Write the full date and consider writing out the month as well, January 1, 2020 instead of 1/1/2020. Writing out the full date could possibly protect you, saving you trouble and prevent legal issues on paperwork.

Source: USA Today