Check Fraud Ring Targets Mostly Hispanic Businesses

A group seems to be targeting businesses that employ large populations of Hispanic immigrants by forging their checks and then cashing the checks at small Latino groceries. The crooks cashed 74 counterfeit Foster Farms checks and walked off with over $52,000 -- possibly the most damaging local check fraud case ever.

"This is the first time we've dealt with anything like this," said Kelso police Detective Mark Berglund, one of three local law enforcement officials involved.

The Aguilars, owners of a small business in Oregon Way called "El Tigre", lost $21,442, and teetered on the brink of bankruptcy before they took out a second mortgage on their home. They were victimized by what authorities now think is a sophisticated, regionwide check forgery ring that also hit three other local businesses: Cowlitz Bank, Kelso grocery Tienda El Jarocho and 'Til Payday, a Longview payday loan store.

The paper checks the ring used were of top quality, looking uncannily real. They appeared to be written off the Foster Farm's account, down to the correct account number. Two other keys to the group's success have been getting out fast -- they were long gone before banks or police realized something was amiss -- and knowing many immigrants cash checks with little or no ID.

It appears the suspects, or another group with the same techniques, also hit the Tri-Cities area, Milton-Freewater, Ore. and Sandpoint, Idaho. Police think the cases are linked because they share a similar modus operandi and all involved high-quality forgeries.