Palo Alto, CA -- The Palo Alto Police Department would like to make businesses aware that six incidents involving the passing of counterfeit AAA traveler’s checks has occurred in the city in the last month. The first case occurred on 1/31/07. In each of these cases, witnesses have described the suspect as a black female adult. The age, height, and weight of the suspect has varied slightly in each case.

In every case, the suspect purchased merchandise totaling approximately $20.00 with a $100.00 AAA traveler’s check. The store employee then gave the suspect change back in cash.

The traveler’s checks are stamped with the AAA logo as well as with a Visa logo. Representatives from the AAA office in Palo Alto have stated that their traveler’s checks do not have a Visa logo on them. The traveler’s checks are more difficult to authenticate than counterfeit cash. There is no watermark or special pen to be used to verify the check’s validity, other than calling the company the check is written from.

We are advising businesses that they should always verify traveler’s checks before accepting them in any denomination. The best way to do this is to contact the company who issued the check and provide them with the serial numbers to confirm the check’s validity. If a check is reported as being invalid, employees are encouraged to call the Palo Alto Police Department immediately to investigate.

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