The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau is investigating a string of fraudulent checks that appear to be issued by Calhoun County Government but are not. In the last month, 17 fraudulent checks were attempted to be cashed throughout the region that use Calhoun County routing and bank account numbers, as well as the County seal, Clerk and Treasurer signatures, and address. Calhoun County’s Treasurer’s Office and Finance staff have numerous systems in place, including Positive Pay, which ensure fraudulent checks are quickly identified. Positive Pay is a financial institution’s method for detecting fraud by checking dollar amounts of checks and check numbers against checks that were issued and authorized by the institution.
Detectives believe these checks are likely printed using a genuine check-printing machine, and then they are addressed to individuals who attempt to cash them. Individual check totals average around $1,500.
In multiple situations, the individual cashing the check was identified and questioned. Recently, two individuals who attempted to cash these fraudulent checks in separate incidents in Emmett Township were arrested. Detectives arrested one male from Battle Creek for Uttering and Publishing and a second female from Battle Creek on outstanding warrants. Detectives seek to identify the person creating the fraudulent checks.
Anyone with information about illegal check creation should contact the Sheriff’s Office Detectives Bureau at 269-781-0880 or Silent Observer at 269-781-9700.
