Suffolk County D.A. offers safety advice to merchants

REVERE – Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley is advising merchants in Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop to be watchful as the holiday season approaches.Conley suggested a number of steps that merchants can take to protect themselves against financial losses due to checks drawn from accounts with insufficient funds.In an effort to help merchants, Conley launched the Bad Check Restitution Program earlier this year, with the primary goal to obtain restitution for the business and to deter the check-writing customer from re-offending.The program requires the check writers who are reported to the program to pay full restitution to the merchant and also attend a special educational class on personal money management at his or her own expense.If the check writer refuses to comply with the requirements, his or her case is then reviewed by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution, which may lead to larceny charges.The program is of no cost to taxpayers or the merchant.Conley said small businesses are important members of the community and that their holiday business often determines whether they will remain solvent in the year to come.”This program can help them recover certain financial losses while diverting otherwise law-abiding bad check writers away from incarceration and toward responsibility and accountability,” he said.Conley recommended merchants take the following precaution with every check transaction: ask to see a driver’s license and record the number on the front of the check; record both the individual’s home and work telephone numbers on the front of the check; do not accept post-dated or two-party checks; be wary of checks that only have a P.O. Box address; do not accept counter or temporary checks printed by the bank for a new account; make sure the customer signs the check; do not accept previously signed checks; avoid giving cash back with a check; do not accept out of state checks and trust your instincts.Merchants can learn more about the Bad Check Restitution Program online at www.checkprogram.com/suffolkcountyma/index.htm or call 877-208-7531.