Final answer:
The idea that you should always sign the back of a check as soon as you get it is false. It's best to endorse the check only when you are ready to deposit or cash it for security reasons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that you should always sign the back of your check as soon as you get it is false. It is generally recommended to sign the back of a check, or endorse it, only when you are about to deposit or cash it. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized cashing if the check is lost or stolen. Once you endorse a check, it becomes a negotiable instrument, meaning it can be transferred to someone else. You want to limit the window in which the check is endorsed and out of your control.
For example, in the quote from Dupin, the focus is on signing the front of the check to authorize the payment, which is a separate process from endorsing the check at the back for deposit or cashing.