How to Protect Your Business From Fraud

  • When accepting credit applications or checks, require the applicant to provide a fingerprint directly on the application or check. This is common practice in the banking community and should be readily accepted. This aids law enforcement with identifying exactly who presented the documents.
  • Install video surveillance in areas where business is conducted with a "loop time" of at least one month. This will allow ample time for the fraud to be detected and the suspect's transaction to be pulled for evidence.
  • Video evidence along with a fingerprint is very good evidence and reduces the possibility that employees would have to attend court.
  • Require a photographic ID be presented during check and credit card transactions, along with a fingerprint on the sales receipt and/or check. Inkless pads are cheap and readily available for each register. Debit card transactions utilizing a PIN number need not fall into this category.
  • If your business retails to other businesses utilizing a business account number and company credit card listed in your computer, understand that this information is often corrupted by ex-employees of the customer business. Always require that your sales representatives call a responsible party with the company to verify the transaction.
  • If your business accepts telephone or internet orders, always utilize the 3-digit verification number printed on the signature line of the card. This number should not be recorded on the internet order form or receipts generated from sales. This ensures that the card itself is in the possession of the customer and isn't being stolen from a compromised recklessly discarded document.