How can I minimize my business losses to bad checks?
Never accept a check without checking and writing down the ID of the person signing the check. Always be sure to compare the picture on the ID of the check writer to the person standing in front of you offering the check as payment. Never allow the check writer to tell you the ID number always look at it yourself and record it carefully. Always obtain and verify a physical address for the check writer.

HIGH RISK CHECKS
• TEMPORARY CHECKS: Check that are not personalized are often a risk. They do not have the account owner's name printed on each check. How can you know that the person giving you the check owns the account on which the check is drawn?
• LOW NUMBERED CHECKS: 9 out of 10 bad checks bear numbers smaller than 300.
• NON-LOCAL CHECK WRITERS: Non-local check writers are much harder for us to identify and prosecute. Out-of-state bank records are almost impossible for us to get.
• NON-RESIDENCE ADDRESS ON THE CHECK: A post office box printed on a check as an address rather than a residence has been shown to be a risk factor.
• ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE ON CHECK: A sloppy signature may be an attempt to prevent easy comparison with the signature on the ID.
• MULTIPLE CHECKS FROM THE SAME ACCOUNT OR BY THE SAME CHECK WRITER IN THE SAME DAY: The check writer may be stealing as much as possible from you before you find out that the checks will not be honored.
• TWO-PARTY CHECKS: It is usually impossible for us to establish which of the parties had intent to deceive.
• PRE-SIGNED CHECKS: You cannot swear the signer signed the check and nobody can prove the signer knew the amount for which the check would be written.
You are safer if you avoid the checks listed above altogether.

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1. What is a hot check?
2. What do I need to file a hot check?
3. How can I minimize my business losses to bad checks?
4. Have you received a notice from the County Attorney?