Washable pen "ink"? What inks to use to prevent mail fraud?

[Sid Post]

In my search for a new pen, I have also been looking at the inks. I live in what the local post office and press claim is the mail theft capital of the world. Local drug addicts apparently like to steal the outgoing mail and wash the ink off of checks to alter the payee and amounts to feed their habit.

What brands and types of ink work best to defeat this type of fraud/theft?

I'm looking for suggestions for a fountain pen, rollerball, ball point and, common run of the mill mass market cheapo ballpoints.

Thanks!

 

[alasome]

First off forget most ballpoint inks; the only type that doesn't wash off is black that uses carbon black for coloring. If the ink uses dyes it will wash out with the right solvents (don't know which ones; do have suspictions). Fountain pen and standard rollerball ink are similar (water based). While they could possibly be washed out with water or bleached out; both processes cause obvious damage to the check. The best is to use a gel rollerball pen. This ink is only soluble while a volatile component is in the ink (hence the warnings to keep the pen capped when not in use). Once these dry the ink is not touched by water or solvents.
Most of this information comes from an article by Greg Clark that was in an issue of Pen World and reprinted in his book the ink sampler ( www.inksampler.com ). If anyone is interested this will give you an idea of what a brand/color of fountain pen ink will look like without having to buy the ink (has other information also). I have heard that there are some new gel refills that fit Parker ball pens that ARE alcohol soluble. These would not be suitable.
hope this helps;

Anthony Lasome

 

[Sid Post]

Thanks Anthony!