Missoula County Attorney Urges Businesses to Screen for Bad Checks

Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst is urging caution for small businesses in both their hiring and their check processing methods.

"We've had a consistent flow of embezzlement that has basically destroyed small businesses over the last several years. A lot of those have been perpetrated by folks that the business owner trusts... like family."

Just this past week, September 20, Missoula had two felony check cases. Pabst says there are some simple steps businesses should do to prevent bad checks from getting into the till in the first place. The first step, is to look at the driver's license and match the face and signature.

"Insist on taking an ID and write down the full name, driver's license number, phone number and physical address. The address should be written on the check, counter checks are hard for us to prosecute if it is in fact a bad check. Have the dress witness the check signing, and put their initials on it. Then if it goes to court, they can be a witness."

According to Pabst some weeks are so bad that Missoula County will have up to 15 bad check cases in process.