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"Framingham native irked by local bank asking for fingerprint" by Charlie Breitrose/Daily News staff, The MetroWest Daily News Posted Dec 31, 2008:

"...FRAMINGHAM - Ariel Sarousi felt surprised and dismayed when asked to provide a fingerprint to cash a check at a Framingham Bank of America branch on Monday.

The 25-year-old Framingham native, who lives in Virginia, brought a rent check to the Bank of America branch on Beacon Street. He does not have an account with the bank, but the check came from a Bank of America account.

'They asked for an ID, which I provided, and after that they brought out an ink pad,' Sarousi said. 'I asked why, and they said they wanted to take a fingerprint.' I said, 'Get out! Please!' and they said, 'No, we're serious.'

Sarousi said he had other forms of identification and that should be enough to cash a check.

'I said, You can't expect me to provide fingerprints to cash a check,' Sarousi said. 'I took my check and left.'

Anne Pace, a Bank of America spokeswoman, said the company does not comment on individual customer situations. She also said she did not have information on the use of fingerprints.

The Massachusetts Bankers Association has a program to install thumbprint touch pads, intended to deter people passing counterfeit or fraudulent checks, according to the organization's Web site.

A fingerprint can be used by law enforcement to investigate claims of check fraud made by a member of the bank. Thumbprints are taken from those who do not have an account when cashing a check at a branch. According to the Web site, fingerprints are not kept on file by the banks and only are shared with police and other law enforcement if fraud is suspected.

Representatives from the Massachusetts Bankers Association could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts has received complaints similar to Sarousi's from other non-members trying to cash checks at Bank of America branches.

While Bank of America says this measure is an effort to reduce and discourage check fraud, we believe the bank has taken a step that could endanger individual liberties,' the ACLU said in a press release.

The ACLU also raised concerns about fingerprints being kept on file and used for purposes other than theft or check fraud investigations.

Sarousi expressed concern about what could happen to his information.

'The reason I was worried about giving my information is, number one, nobody knows where the fingerprint goes,' he said. 'Or it could be discarded in an incorrect way, or could be found by someone going through trash. It would have my name and my Social Security number is on my license.'

'Who knows what could happen.'

He also worries about other ways the fingerprint might be used.

'In a time of terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security is buying fingerprints from private organizations,' Sarousi said. 'The whole thing is a dehumanizing kind of event'..."

When I read this, I thought to myself, "Here comes the fingerprint processing fee." Then I found this article:

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/Mike.Puccinelli.fingerprint.2.957819.html

It reports that your thumbprint (and a fee of up to $25 for processing it) is required in Chicago and Cook County, Illinois to sell your house!

So.....I wonder if you get Freddie Mac's or Fannie Mae's thumbprint when you buy a foreclosed home from them in Chicago?

That would help catch the real fraudsters!

- Ed Smith, Publisher
The EHS Letter Manual