GUIDELINES FOR USE OF THE COMMERCIAL FORGERY REPORT FORM:

Reporting procedures for crimes against persons and/or property are handled in a variety of different ways by the Eau Claire Police Department depending upon circumstances. The commercial forgery report form is intended for businesses and financial institutions located in the City of Eau Claire to report incidents of forged check transactions.

The forgery report form should ONLY be used under the following conditions:

1. The suspect is no longer at the business location.

2. The check is determined to be a forgery or counterfeit, and not an NSF, stop Payment, or account closed check.

If the forgery is in progress (i.e. the suspect is still there) contact the Communications Center at (715) 839-4972, or 911 in an emergency. Ask to have a police officer respond to the business location.

NSF or account closed checks should be filed directly with the District Attorney's Office for the county that the business is located in. Stop payment or 3^rd party checks are civil matters, and thus will not be investigated by the Eau Claire Police Department or the District Attorney's Office.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING A COMMERCIAL FORGERY COMPLAINT:

1. Print a copy of the instruction sheet, commercial forgery report form, and voluntary written statement form
2. Fill out the forgery report and written statement forms as completely as possible according to the instructions.
3. Mail the forms along with the original check, store video surveillance of the transaction, and an affidavit of forgery if available to the following address:

Financial Crimes Unit
Eau Claire Police Department
PO Box 496
Eau Claire, WI 54702-0496

In the event that your incident results in an individual's arrest a victim assistance form is posted for your information and review. The Victim Assistance Form does not need to be returned to the police department along with the forgery report form.

Questions regarding this form may be e-mailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you may contact the records division of the Eau Claire Police Department Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 715-839-4762.

TIPS TO AVOID FORGED CHECKS:

As a reminder, there are a few simple steps your employees can follow in order to avoid accepting forged checks.

1. Make sure the check is filled out properly and completely before accepting it.

2. Physically examine a Driver's License, State-Issued ID card, or membership card (where applicable). Compare the ID to the person and to the check. Simply asking a customer for an expiration date or other information is not sufficient.

3. Note the date and time of the transaction on the check. If not automatically printed, the employee accepting the check should note the date and time on the face of the check at the time of the transaction.

4. Note the identity of the clerk who accepted the check.

"NON-SUFFICIENT FUNDS", "NO ACCOUNT" and "ACCOUNT CLOSED" CHECKS:

Worthless checks should be reported directly to the District Attorney’s Office. Do not call the police to report "non-sufficient funds", "no account", or "account closed" checks. The Eau Claire County District Attorney's Office has established a policy for prosecuting worthless checks Please review this policy with your employees. If their criteria for prosecuting worthless checks are not met, your only recourse will be the civil court process.