Financial Crimes Unit

Bad/Stolen Checks

The Financial Crimes Unit handles checks over $2000.00 that are part of an immediate exchange as payment for a product or service.

If the check is under $2,000, the State’s Attorney Bad Check Restitution Program will handle the investigation. 1 888 524-5181

There are two things to consider when determining the agency that will conduct the investigation for your bad check.

1. If the check amount was over $2,000 and the check was cashed outside of Prince George's County, the case will be handled by the agency which governs that jurisdiction.
2. If the check was over $2,000 and cashed in Prince George’s County, the Financial Crimes Unit will investigate.

Prince George's County Financial Crimes Unit does not investigate: two-party checks, post-dated checks, no immediate exchange of the check for a product or service, checks rendered in response to phone or mail order.

The procedure to be followed before the Prince George's County Financial Crimes Unit will conduct an investigation concerning a non sufficient funds check or a check written on a closed account that is over $2,000 is:

1. The victim must send a certified letter demanding full payment. The person that issued the bad check has 10 days to respond to the victim’s demand letter, if the issue is not resolved go to step 2.
2. The victim must bring the original check or bank-certified copy and proof of the certified letter to the appointment with a Financial Crimes Unit investigator.
3. Contact the Financial Crimes unit by calling (301)772-4237 or email pgpdfinancialcrimes@co.pg.md.us.

STOLEN CHECKS

1. The victim must inform the bank. The bank will have the victim fill out an affidavit of forgery.
2. The bank will then refund the victim’s funds. Once the victim’s funds are returned to them the bank becomes the victim.
3. The bank should do an internal investigation and subsequently bring the case to the police department.

If the bank does not refund the victim’s money then the victim should call the Financial Crimes Unit at (301)772-4237and schedule an appointment.

Back to Top