Dubuque Police have recently become aware of several area businesses receiving fraudulent $100 traveler’s checks.
The suspect is described as a white male, grey hair, 5’6” to 5’10”, 175 pounds, 50-60 years of age, with a northeastern American accent and possibly of Italian (or similar) decent, and seems to target businesses without surveillance. Similar fraudulent checks have also been passed in Galena, IL, most likely by the same suspect. At this time, it appears that all of the transactions occurred on February 19th, 2011, and aren’t confirmed as fraudulent until the checks are processed by the victim’s financial institution. The traveler’s checks purport to have been issued by Thomas Cook MasterCard and thus far have had sequential numbers: PB73-565-873, PB73-565-874 and PB73-565-875. The name on the checks appears to be first name “Paul” and last name similar to “Avidsen”. Businesses are encouraged to take the following steps anytime a patron attempts to pass a traveler’s check or similar form of payment:
1) Examine the travelers check(s) for security features:
• Paper: A counterfeit check may feel smoother or thicker than paper currency.
• Watermark: Each brand has its own watermark, which should be visible on the front side of the check when lifted to light. A counterfeit check will not have a watermark or the watermark will appear on the back side of the check.
• Raised texture: On American Express, Visa, Thomas Cook MasterCard and some other brands, part of the printing feels raised or engraved.
• Holographic thread: A counterfeit check has no thread or it appears as a dull strip rather than a shiny, metallic strip.
• Signature area: If this area is brownish or the background printing there is missing or smudged, the check may have been “washed” (the original signature removed through chemical means).
2) Make sure the presenter countersigns the check in the lower left corner in front of you.
3) Make sure the signature and counter-signature match.
4) If the check is already countersigned, ask the presenter to sign it again on the reverse side and ask for photo identification. Check the identification for authenticity and against the information on the check (name, address and signature).
If you have any questions or doubts about accepting a traveler’s check, call the issuer’s customer service department - they can verify the holder’s name by the check’s serial number. The following numbers are available at all times:
American Express: 1-800-221-7282 or 800-525-7641
Citicorp: 1-800-645-6556
Interpayment: 1-800-221-2426
MasterCard: 1-800-223-9920
Thomas Cook: 1-800-223-7373
Visa International: 1-800-227-6811
If a business owner believes a fraudulent check is being used for payment, that individual should discreetly notify police and avoid alerting the bearer while gaining as much identifying information as possible.