Short answer: the best pen for writing checks uses ink that soaks into the paper and resists chemicals, so a thief cannot wash it off. Carousel Checks sells the UniBall Fraud Prevention Pen with patented uni Super Ink for $3.00, or 3 for $8.00. Carousel says the ink bonds to paper fibers and prevents alterations, even from check washing. uniball uses the same uni Super Ink in its 207 gel pens. Prices checked October 20, 2026.
Order the $3.00 UniBall fraud pen →
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Why the pen matters
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service describes check washing as changing the payee name, and often the dollar amount, on a check and depositing it fraudulently. Some of those checks are stolen from mailboxes and washed in chemicals to remove the ink. The thief keeps your signature and writes a new name and a new amount over the washed lines.
The ink in your pen decides how easy that is. Carousel says uni Super Ink is an archival-quality pigment that bonds to paper fibers, preventing alterations, even from check washing, and uniball says the same ink does not smear, fade or wash away. A check writing pen keeps the payee and amount you wrote on the paper.
Read our full check washing guide for the mail habits and check security features that work alongside the pen.
The UniBall Fraud Prevention Pen
Carousel sells the UniBall Fraud Prevention Pen in its fraud prevention section and calls it the Uniball Check Fraud Security Pen. The product page lists:
- uni Super Ink: patented, archival-quality pigment that bonds to paper fibers, preventing alterations, even from check washing.
- Resistance: extraordinary levels of water, chemical and light resistance, according to Carousel.
- Safe ink: acid-free, non-toxic and odorless.
- Point and color: 0.7 mm point, black ink.
- Grip: comfortable rubber grip. PROP 65 compliant.
A 0.7 mm point is a medium line, bold enough to fill the payee and amount lines in one pass. Keep the pen with your checkbook so you never grab whatever pen is closest when a bill is due.
Prices: pen and check security
The pen and the products that pair with it, checked October 20, 2026:
| Product | Seller | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| UniBall Fraud Prevention Pen | Carousel Checks | uni Super Ink, 0.7 mm, black | $3.00 (3 for $8.00) |
| High Security Blue checks | Checks Unlimited | Hologram square, heat reactive ink, fraud warning | $28.49 for 80 |
| Blue Green Hologram checks | Carousel Checks | Hologram, heat sensitive ink, chemical protection paper | $24.00 for 100 |
| #9 security envelopes | Carousel Checks | Tinted interior lining hides the check | $5.50 for 50 |
The 3-pack works out to about $2.67 a pen: one for the checkbook, one for the desk and one for the car or the purse. Checks Unlimited and Bank Checks Plus do not list a security pen.
uniball 207 and uni Super Ink
Many people searching for a check pen ask for the uniball 207 by name. uniball’s 207 collection page says its SIGNO 207 gel pens dispense a patented, highly pigmented ink called uni Super Ink, which does not smear, fade or wash away, and lists point sizes from 0.38 mm to 1.0 mm.
Carousel’s pen lists the same patented uni Super Ink, a 0.7 mm point and black ink, but its product page gives no model number. If you want the 207 itself, uniball sells the line on its own site; if you want the Super Ink in one order with your checks, envelopes and stamps, the Carousel pen costs $3.00.
| Carousel UniBall Fraud Prevention Pen | uniball SIGNO 207 (uniball site) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ink | Patented uni Super Ink | Patented uni Super Ink |
| Point | 0.7 mm | 0.38 mm to 1.0 mm |
| Color | Black | Choice of ink colors |
| Where to buy | Carousel Checks, with your check order | uniball site |
Add the Super Ink pen to your order →
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How to write a check that is hard to alter
- Write with a Super Ink pen, every time, including the memo line.
- Start the payee name at the far left of the line and draw a line through the empty space after it.
- Write the amount box close to the dollar sign, and write the amount in words starting at the far left.
- Draw a line from the end of the words to the word Dollars so nothing can be added.
- Never leave the payee or the amount blank, and never sign a blank check.
- Record the check number, payee and amount in your register the same day.
A check register makes a washed check easy to spot: the payee and amount on your statement will not match what you wrote down. Duplicate checks do the same job; see our duplicate checks guide.
Other uses for the pen
Carousel lists more uses for the same ink:
- Signing the signature panel on the back of a credit card or debit card.
- Writing quick labels in children’s clothes and backpacks.
- Embellishing scrapbooks and photo albums with acid-free ink.
For cards, pair the pen with RFID blocking card sleeves from the same Carousel fraud prevention section.
Beyond the pen
A pen protects what you write. The rest of the check matters too. High security checks add a hologram and heat reactive ink, and chemical protection paper shows a stain or spot where someone tried a wash. Mail checks inside security envelopes from a blue collection box or the Post Office, and endorse checks you receive with a For Deposit Only stamp.
How to order and delivery
- Pick 1 pen for $3.00 or the 3-pack for $8.00.
- Add security envelopes or high security checks if you need them.
- Choose delivery and pay.
Delivery: Carousel Checks lists Next Day Air (1 to 2 business days), 2nd Day Air (2 to 3), Ground (2 to 5), Trackable (3 to 7), USPS Priority (7 to 10) and Bulk (9 to 18 business days), plus processing time. Checks Unlimited: printing and standard delivery take up to 15 business days after order verification, or 7 to 11 business days with trackable delivery. In-Plant Rush ($6.99) gets the order ready to ship within 2 business days after verification.
Ordering checks too? Checks Unlimited sells Blue Classic checks at $23.49 for 80 and Carousel sells Blue Safety checks at $20.00 a box. Checks Unlimited sells MLB checks for 30 clubs, from the Yankees and Red Sox to the Dodgers and Cubs, and collegiate checks for 19 schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Penn State and Tennessee.
Value Priced Personal Checks
Browse hundreds of personal check designs and current deals, from classic and floral to scenic and photo styles, all shipped fast from a trusted printer.
A pen is one layer. Our how to stop check washing checklist covers the rest, from high security checks to positive pay.
Check writing pens: frequently asked questions
What is the best pen for writing checks?
A pen with pigment ink that bonds to the paper. Carousel sells the UniBall Fraud Prevention Pen with patented uni Super Ink for $3.00, and says the ink prevents alterations, even from check washing.
Does the uniball 207 stop check washing?
uniball says the uni Super Ink in its SIGNO 207 gel pens does not smear, fade or wash away. Carousel sells a UniBall pen with the same uni Super Ink for $3.00.
Is the Carousel UniBall pen a 207?
Carousel lists it as the UniBall Fraud Prevention Pen with uni Super Ink, a 0.7 mm point and black ink. Its product page gives no model number.
How much is a check fraud pen?
At Carousel Checks the UniBall Fraud Prevention Pen costs $3.00, or $8.00 for a 3-pack (October 20, 2026).
Is uni Super Ink safe to use?
Carousel says uni Super Ink is acid-free, non-toxic and odorless, and the pen has a comfortable rubber grip and a 0.7 mm point.
Can I use the pen on the back of a credit card?
Yes. Carousel lists signing secure signatures on the back of credit cards as one of its uses, along with labels and scrapbooks.
Related guides
- How to write a check
- How to endorse a check
- Check washing: how to protect your checks
- Check fraud prevention
- RFID sleeves
- Check envelopes
- Check registers
- Duplicate checks
- Check accessories
- How to reorder checks online
- Cheapest checks 2026
- Check companies compared
Affiliate disclosure: GetBankChecks.com is an independent guide, not a check printer. Some links are affiliate links, and we earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices, codes and designs change, so check them on the merchant’s site before you pay.