A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION OF FORGERY AND HOW IT CAN BE DETECTED AND PROVEN INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF THE RETURN PROCESS FOR A REJECTED CHECK AND A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE UNIFORM BANKING CODE AND HOW IT AFFECTS FORGERY INVESTIGATION. THE CHECK IS THEN DESCRIBED AND EXAMINED IN DETAIL. NOTES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EACH PART AND THEN MEANING OF SUCH PARTS AS THE ROUTING SYMBOLS ARE INCLUDED. THE STEPS INVOLVED IN FORGERY INVESTIGATION AND THE PROOF REQUIRED FOR PROSECUTION ARE ALSO OUTLINED. INCLUDED IS A DISCUSSION OF THE JURISDICTION OF LOCAL POLICE, SHERIFFS, STATE POLICE, FBI, SECRET SERVICE, AND POSTAL INSPECTOR'S OFFICE IN FORGERY INVESTIGATION, PLUS TIPS ON OBTAINING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE OFFENDER. ANSWERS ARE PROVIDED TO SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON QUESTIONED DOCUMENT ANALYSIS AND LABORATORIES AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS FOR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION ARE LISTED. THE FINAL CHAPTER DEALS WITH THE CRIME OF FORGERY AND INVESTIGATION AS IT APPLIES TO CREDIT CARDS. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FRAUDULENT SIGNING OF A CREDIT CARD SLIP AND FRAUDULENT USE OF A CREDIT CARD, THE CREDIT CARD CLEARING PROCESS, AND RECOMMENDED SECURITY PROCEDURES FOR CREDIT CARD COMPANIES. A GLOSSARY OF PERTINENT POLICE AND BANKING TERMS APPEARS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS HANDBOOK. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)