FARMINGTON — Franklin County sheriff’s detectives are investigating incidents of fake computer-generated payroll checks being cashed in three counties.

The checks appear to be from Franklin County businesses and have been cashed at small stores in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties, Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. said Friday.

Farmington Police Department and law enforcement agencies in the other two counties have also received complaints of people cashing fake checks at small stores, Farmington Chief Jack Peck Jr. said. Several agencies are investigating.

The checks are in amounts of $300 or more, he said.

Franklin County Lt. David St. Laurent and Detective Kenneth Charles received several reports Thursday on the fraudulent checks and are working on multiple leads, Nichols said.

Farmington police also received several reports Thursday.

Small business owners and clerks should identify anyone attempting to cash a check, Nichols said. They should write on the check at least the driver’s license number of the person cashing it and clerks should put their initials on the check after identifying the person, he said.

If a clerk or business owner has any concerns about a payroll check, they should call their local police agency, Peck said.

Anyone with information on the fraudulent checks is asked to notify a local police agency, including the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 778-2680 or the Farmington Police Department at 778-6311.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

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