Muldrow Police Chief Tony Lewis said a man presented a counterfeit payroll check for $392.65 to be cashed Monday at Woody's Liquor Store. The clerk at the store cashed the check, but it wasn't until later that it was discovered that the check was counterfeit. Since the investigation is ongoing, Lewis could not go into any details, but he did say the check itself looked authentic and had a company logo on it.
"We're working several of these (cases) over the last several months," Lewis said. He said the sheriff's office is also working on several counterfeit check cases.
Lewis said he believes the checks are originating from a local group in eastern Oklahoma or western Arkansas, and the suspect in this recent case is believed to be from Fort Smith, Ark.
"I think this is a systemic problem," Lewis said.
Lewis said the department passed out fliers to every business in Muldrow alerting them about counterfeit checks.
From what Lewis knows, a regular payroll check is taken, and through scanning, cutting and pasting, the real routing number is taken off the check and a fake routing number and address is added.
"On face value, it looks like a real check," Lewis said.
Lewis stresses to business owners and operators that if they receive a payroll check from a company they are not familiar with or that is out of the area, or from a new customer, they should call the police immediately. He added that merchants should not try to detain the person.
"We've gotten several of these checks," Lewis said.
Lewis said his department is working with federal authorities and local law enforcement agencies to try to locate the suspects in these cases.
