The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in the investigation of a check fraud case.
According to the sheriff’s office, a business in the Pilot Rock area was recently victimized and several dozen checks were stolen. The stolen checks were made out to the Pilot Rock Sanitary Station and were already processed by the bank.
“We have made an arrest in the case, with more pending, but some of the stolen checks may still be in circulation,” said Undersheriff Jim Littlefield. “Investigators are asking that if you wrote a check to this business between May 2014 and September 2014, please review your checking account and bank statements for any activity that may be questionable.”
If anyone finds suspicious activity involving their checking account, notify the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office at 541-966-3600.
How to Protect Yourself from Becoming a Victim of Check Fraud
Fraud professionals have become increasingly skilled and sophisticated, thanks to advances in readily available technology such as personal computers, scanners and color photocopiers. Criminals today can defraud you and your financial institution quite easily with a blank check taken from your check book, a canceled check found in your garbage, or a check you mailed to pay a bill. Therefore, it is important to follow a common-sense, logical approach with the way you use and store your checks. Here are some suggestions:
• Make sure your checks are endorsed by your financial institution and incorporate security features that help combat counterfeiting and alteration.
• Store your checks, deposit slips, bank statements and canceled checks in a secure and locked location. Never leave your checkbook in your vehicle or in the open.
• Reconcile your bank statement within 30 days of receipt in order to detect any irregularities. Otherwise, you may become liable for any losses due to check fraud.
• Never give your account number to people you do not know, especially over the telephone. Be particularly aware of unsolicited phone sales.
• Unless needed for tax purpose, destroy old canceled checks, account statements, deposit tickets, ATM receipts.
• When you receive your check order, make sure all of the checks are there, and that none are missing. Report missing checks to your bank at once. Should you fail to receive your order by mail, alert your bank. Checks could have been stolen from mail box or lost in transient.
• If your home is burglarized, check your supply of checks to determine if any have been stolen. Look closely, because thieves will sometimes take only one or two checks from the middle or back of the book. The longer it takes to detect any of your checks have been taken, the more time the criminal has to use them successfully.
• If someone pays you with a cashier’s check, have them accompany you to the bank to cash it. If at all possible, only accept a check during normal business hours so you can verify whether it is legitimate. Make sure you obtain identification information from the individual
• Do not mail bills from your mailbox at night. It is a favorite location from which a criminal can gain possession of your check with the intent to defraud you. Criminals will remove a check from your mailbox and either endorse it using bogus identification, photocopy and cash it repeatedly, scan and alter the check, or chemically alter it. The Post Office is the best location from which to send your bill payment.
• Limit the amount of personal information on your check. For example, do not include your Social Security, driver’s license or telephone numbers on your check. A criminal can use this information to literally steal your identity by applying for a credit card or loan in your name, or even open a new checking account.
• Don’t leave blank spaces on the payee and amount lines.
• The type of pen you use makes a difference. Most ballpoint and marker inks are dye based, meaning that the pigments are dissolved in the ink. Liquid gel ink pens, use gel ink that contains tiny particles of color that are trapped into the paper, making check washing a lot more difficult.
• Don’t write your credit card number on the check.
• Use your own pre-printed deposit slips, and make sure the account number on your slip is correct. Thieves occasionally alter deposit slips in the hope you won’t notice and the money goes into their account.
• Don’t make a check payable to cash. If lost or stolen, the check can be cashed by anyone.
• Never endorse a check until you are ready to cash or deposit it. The information can be altered if it is lost or stolen.
If you have any questions on how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or any other crime, notify the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office.
