The Selma Police Department is investigating a check fraud scam that is taking scamming businesses in the area and those businesses are experiencing a loss because of the scam. The police department wants all residents and businesses to be on the lookout.

According to the department the suspects are using checks to make a payment from a business website advertisement, then they are turning around and writing a check for the payment in excess of that payment amount.

Lt. Johnny King of the Selma Police Department said these businesses are then directed to deposit the check into their account and either a money-gram or Western Union back to the customer for the balance, minus the payment and transaction fees.

“Once the check is deposited, the business or citizen suffers a loss because the check is a forged document and could cause the funds to be taken from the citizen’s or business’ checking accounts,” King said.

Anyone who is asked to do this should immediately report the matter to their local bank before they deposit the check or call the Selma Police Department at 874-6611 which is a line open 24 hours a day. They can also report the matter to the Criminal Investigation Division from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to determine the validity of the check and to help further the investigation.