An old, evil scam is back in full force and Clark wants you to be aware of it. Phony check scams, according to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, are ripping off more and more businesses. The FTC reports that approximately 3.3 million businesses have been ripped off in the past year. It works much like the phony checks that come to consumers’ homes in the amount of $2 or $3. The checks appear to come from a rebate fulfillment center, and most people throw them away because they know it’s a scam. But businesses fall victim because no one is monitoring the incoming checks and they get deposited with the others. By depositing the check, that business is signing up for some service that charges an annual fee. If you own your own business, remember that this is a hot scam. You may not even notice that someone is stealing money from you. So, have a system so that you know what checks are coming in and what checks are being deposited. And watch your telephone bills for charges you don't recognize.