Counterfeit checks plague businesses

By ANDY CLARKE
Collegian Staff Writer

Computer-generated counterfeit checks recently have been used to purchase expensive computer equipment in at least three incidents in State College, said State College Police Department detective Ralph Ralston.

Ralston said the checks look quite realistic but have some glaring indications they are false.

"One of the first things you notice is there is no routing number," Ralston said. Also, the name on the check is often an employer or company and not an individual's name, he said.

Police suspect someone from Philadelphia, perhaps someone connected to counterfeit check incidents in the area last year, is responsible, Ralston said. Check counterfeiting is a felony, he added.

In a recent case, a man purchased a laptop computer with a counterfeit check drawn on a credit union in southeastern Pennsylvania, according to a press release. The suspect provided a false name and identification when making the purchase.

Amy Long, a secretary at Master Computer, 121 S. Allen St., said although their business has not been hit by any counterfeit checks, employees have stepped up their scrutiny of personal checks in light of the recent incidents.

"Before, we didn't even check licenses, but now we check licenses and another form of major (identification)," Long said.

Check counterfeiting is a growing problem in the United States. In 1993, counterfeit checks cost banks $813 million, and the United States Secret Service projects that figure will reach $2 billion by the year 2000, according to www.thesite.com.

"With the introduction of computers in the workplace and in the home, we're finding more use of computers in crime, and check counterfeiting is one of those crimes," said Linda Vizzi, special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

John Marsden, manager of The Communication Station, 118 S. Pugh St., said he was concerned about counterfeit checks coming at the end of the semester from students graduating and leaving town. Even so, the company has not changed its check security policy.

Some local bank chains, however, have implemented high-security measures due in part to the increased check counterfeiting.

Mellon Bank now requires nonaccount holders to produce two forms of identification as well as an ink-less thumbprint, which allows the bank to find perpetrators even if they use false identification, said Ron Gruendl, Mellon media relations specialist.

Gruendl said these security measures have substantially curbed Mellon's problem with counterfeit checks.