A method for authenticating a financial transaction request includes receiving first information where the first information includes first party identifying information, and a unique pseudorandom number of a pseudorandom sequence included with a check from a plurality of checks. A status of activating the plurality of checks is determined using a portion of the first information, a stored activation code, and stored information first party identifying information. The stored first party identifying information is stored with the pseudorandom sequence. The first party is authenticated with the received and stored first party identifying information. The unique pseudorandom number is authenticated with the received first party identifying information, a portion of the stored first party identifying information and the stored sequence. The first information is authenticated if the first party and the unique pseudorandom number included with the first information are authenticated and if the plurality of checks have been activated.