Public Safety Announcement: Protect Your Business from Credit Card Fraud

The Buckingham Township Police Department is warning local businesses to be vigilant against a growing trend of credit card fraud. Criminals are using stolen credit cards to make purchases over the phone, often targeting small businesses and retailers.

Here's how the scam typically works: a thief will call a business, place an order, and provide a stolen credit card number to complete the transaction. The item(s) may initially clear the bill of sale, and the inventory may be released to the criminal. However, a few weeks later, the transaction is flagged as fraudulent, leaving the business with a financial loss and a headache to resolve.

To protect your business from this type of fraud, we recommend the following:

• Verify the customer's identity and credit card information before processing the transaction.
• Be cautious of large or unusual orders, especially if they are placed over the phone.
• Use a secure payment processing system that can detect and flag suspicious transactions.
• Train your employees to recognize the signs of fraud and report any suspicious activity to management.

If you believe your business has been targeted by credit card fraud, please contact the Buckingham Township Police Department. We are committed to helping you protect your business and preventing further fraudulent activity.

Remember, vigilance and awareness are key to preventing credit card fraud. By working together, we can keep our community safe and secure.