CREDIT CARD FRAUD, along with returned cheques, is becoming a major worry for some supermarkets, causing them to write off substantial amounts monthly.

To combat the problem, owners have moved to make identification compulsory, while heavy signage has been posted in some supermarkets to make shoppers aware.

David Neilands, managing director at SuperCentre, told the DAILY NATION it was a problem which could be fought by simple vigilance.

"Some persons get a bit flustered when identification is required, but so far they have understood that it is for both their benefit and ours to ensure that the transaction is legal.

"We have seen persons cashing with credit cards belonging to persons overseas and because you don't insist on identification, it is easy for them to walk away and eventually, we have to write off those goods. And along with that, wrong names are used too. It has been challenging," Neilands said.

Andrew Bynoe, managing director of Emerald City and Carlton Supermarkets, said he recognised an increase in the number of bad cheques within the last six months, but did not link it to the current economic climate.

"This has raised concern because people are stealing cards and cheque books and although we do have a relationship with our customers it has been happening," he said.

"We have just implemented the move to make identification at the counter compulsory, but it is early to tell if it will fully eliminate the problem but it should in most cases.

"We have seen this activity more so around Bank Holidays, especially within the last six months. The major difficulty is that persons using fraudulent credit cards don't shop light, so by the end of your financial year you are faced with a substantial amount to write off," Bynoe added.

Neilands also said it appeared as though credit card fraud had become more organised, with a regionwide link.

"We would have been notified officially of the problem from one of our consultants, and in one case, the names and numbers on these cards were also identified outside of Barbados and as far as South America, so it was crucial that we take this approach to make the public aware," he said. (PA)