DeKalb County State’s Attorney Ron Matekaitis is urging local businesses to combat financial fraud by educating merchants about detecting fraudulent credit cards.

Matekaitis hosted a seminar Friday with representatives from MasterCard, DeKalb County’s Bad Check Program and the DeKalb Police Department to demonstrate various methods of detection.

MasterCard representative Terry Gearhart showed the crowd of about 50 people forms of fraud, including skimming.

“The skimmer takes this little device that fits in a pocket and when he turns his back to you, slides your card through and gets everything he needs,” he said.

This type of credit card scam is popular in restaurants, Gearhart said. Restaurant employees get a flat fee from a ringleader for every card number they swipe and turn in, he said.

Crooks then put the information on the magnetic strip of a fraudulent card and try to make purchases or sell the cards, Gearhart said.

Some criminals prefer checks over credit cards.

Janet Whalen from the county’s bad check restitution program explained the process the county uses to get businesses money for bad checks.

Offenders are required to attend eight hours of class and see a psychologist to determine why they are writing bad checks and convince them to stop, Whalen said.

The bad check program was organized about three years ago to handle the increasing volume of checks that come into Matekaitis’ office.

“It’s incredible the number of checks and the amounts we get,” Matekaitis said.

One of the best things a retailer can do is use common sense, he said.

“If you have three guys come in at 2 a.m. to buy $1,500 in jewelry, think about it,” Matekaitis said.

Every time a check is received, the receiver should write down all identifying information possible, said DeKalb police detective Don Gladden.

“I think it opened our eyes a little bit,” said Ingrid Inboden, co-owner of Inboden’s Meat Market, 1106 N. First St. “But, most of the stuff we already do.”

Carolyn Witheft, head cashier at Inboden’s, said the seminar made her more aware of the efforts criminals make to rip people off, especially with credit cards.