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QUINCY, ILL. -- The holiday shopping season means big business for retailers and business owners, but it also may mean more people trying to shoplift or scam them.

To minimize those incidents, the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce is offering seminars for business owners and managers on avoiding loss this holiday season.

Wednesday, November 3rd a Quincy Police Department Detective talked about how to avoid customers using counterfeit money, bad checks and stolen credit cards.

"The main thing they need to pay attention to is their store policy. A lot of times when we have problems being passed or bad credit cards being used at retail stores is because some portion of the policy is not followed," said QPD Detective Gabriel VanderBol.

"Business owners and the employees need to pay attention to the policies, follow the policies. They need to, especially during the holiday season, they need to have a heightened sense of alertness as to what's going on around them," said VanderBol.

That means ID's should be checked thoroughly on all check and credit card purchases.

You should also keep in mind that the most commonly counterfeited bill is a $20 and many times a fake will be placed among real bills so cashiers do not touch them as much.

It's important to feel every bill to see if you can tell a difference.

There will be two more seminars similar to Wednesday's.

Thursday, November 11th the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce Staff will share some customer service tips.

Tuesday, November 16th Attorney Brett Irving from the Illinois Attorney General's Office will provide tips on avoiding accepting stolen credit cards.

The seminars are held in the Quincy Mall Community Room from 8:45 to 9:30 AM.

Seminars are free for chamber members.

Non-members businesses may attend as well for $25 a person.