Identification is key for local businesses to avoid fraudulent checks, according to Albert Lea Police Department Deputy Director of Police J.D. Carlson.

Carlson suggested businesses check the driver’s licenses of customers using checks before accepting them to avoid fraud.

He said fraud is taxing for local businesses, and said they often have to write the lost funds off as a loss because they don’t think they’ll ever get the funds back.

Carlson described the issue as ongoing, but one that can be avoided.

He advised businesses refuse the check if the customer using it can’t produce the necessary identification.

Carlson said a number of businesses are avoiding the risk by not accepting checks.

“It’s a chance they’re taking by accepting checks,” Carlson said.

MarketPlace Foods reported a female using a closed account to write checks for gift cards Tuesday morning. She had reportedly been to MarketPlace four times to purchase gift cards. The store reported a total loss of $711.78.

According to the National Federation of Independent Business, having the customer sign the check in the presence of a store worker and making sure the customer’s phone number and address appear somewhere on the check is important to preventing bad checks. The NFIB advised businesses to think carefully If the customer has an address that doesn’t appear permanent or that would make it difficult to trace the check later on.

The NFIB also advised examining the check carefully before accepting it and being beware of checks with crossed out or rewritten marks.

According to the Association for Financial Professionals, checks are listed as the most targeted method of fraud, followed by credit and debit cards and wire transfers.