Elgin cops help merchants skirt scam season

Elgin police are reminding business owners of steps they can take to avoid falling prey to scammers and con artists during the holiday shopping season.

There's often an increase in reports of customers passing counterfeit money and using stolen or forged credit cards and checks at peak shopping times.

Business owners and clerks should pay attention to how customers are paying. And taking the extra time to check a driver's license or bill could avoid a hassle, Elgin police Detective Jim Roscher said.

"It's a lot easier to take the time to check than it is to deal with the bank later, Roscher said Monday at an anti-fraud workshop held at the Centre of Elgin.

Some easy steps to avoid getting bilked in a check or credit card scam include:

• Asking the customer for his or her ID.

• Making sure the picture in the ID matches the customer.

• Looking for spelling mistakes on checks.

• Calling the bank the check is being drawn on.

For more information about loss-control programs for businesses, call crime prevention specialist Karen Flanagan with the Elgin Police Department at (847) 289-2533.