Prevention of Check Forgeries

The Stillwater Police Department would like to offer some tips to help businesses recognize and prevent check forgeries.

1. Always ask to see a valid state issued drivers license or identification card from every customer who writes a check.  If they don't have a photo ID, don't accept the check.  The vast majority of check forgeries in Stillwater involve stolen checks in which the suspect does not have identification in their possession.

2. When you ask for identification, verify the picture and personal information on the ID matches the person writing the check.

3. Be suspicious of people bringing in individual checks rather than a checkbook.

4. If you suspect a check may be a forgery, attempt to call another employee or a supervisor over so they can also provide a description of the suspect.  When the suspect leaves the store, attempt to get a license plate number and a description of their car.

5. A tool available to merchants is the Check Print system.  The system uses an inkless pad at the cash register to record on the check the thumbprint of the person writing the check.  The print is checked only if the check is returned as a forgery.   The inkless pads are available from the Payne County District Attorney's Bogus Check office.