One of the most common sources of fraud in today's businesses--be them small or large--is the handling of checks for making deposits and paying bills.

Experts say it's best to separate the duties - let one person handle incoming payments, while another person writes the checks and pays the bills.

And, if you can't afford this kind of duplicity, make sure that you, as the owner or president of the business, sign each and every check, matching the check up to the invoice to ensure accuracy.

Lastly, never sign checks in a hurry; there's too great a potential for making mistakes.