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Fake checks drive many types of scams – like those involving phony prize wins, fake jobs, mystery shoppers, online classified ad sales, and others. In a fake check scam, a person you don’t know asks you to deposit a check – sometimes for several thousand dollars and usually for more than what you are owed – and wire some of the money back to that person. The scammers always have a good story to explain the overpayment – they’re stuck out of the country, they need you to cover taxes or fees, you need to buy supplies, or something else. But by the time your bank discovers you’ve deposited a bad check, the scammer already has the money you sent, and you’re stuck paying the rest of the check back to the bank.

The Federal Trade Commission receives tens of thousands of reports each year about fake checks. Over the last three years, the number of complaints has steadily increased, and so have the dollars lost.

The FTC’s new infographic, developed with the American Bankers Association Foundation, offers some tip-offs to rip-offs and what to do if you get a check from someone you don’t know.

Please share this information with others. Victims may be embarrassed to talk about their experiences, but you can help. A simple phone call, email or text, saying “Look what I just found” and sharing this information may make a difference in someone else’s life.

Want to avoid the latest rip-offs? Sign up for free consumer alerts from the FTC at ftc.gov/subscribe.

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

John
September 05, 2018
How long can the bank go back to reverse the charges, in other words how long should we wait be removing the money?
FTC Staff
September 05, 2018

In reply to by John

It’s best not to rely on money from a cashiers, business or personal check, or money order until the bank confirms that the check has cleared. It can take weeks for a bank to discover and untangle a forged check. Until the bank confirms that the funds from the check have been deposited into your account, you are responsible for any funds you withdraw against that check.

A. Banks
September 05, 2018

In reply to by John

The bank in my instience informed me they can go back 3 years for a check to be returned. I did not take any money from the check out my account for over 3 months, to double check if it was cleared. Over 6 months later the check was returned. From a client i worked for.
Donald
September 27, 2019

In reply to by Amanda

I just received a letter from "Bell-Camp Corporation Inc." stating: "We are pleased to inform you that you are one of the winners of the SUPERMARKET CUSTOMER SWEEPSTAKES RAFFLE DRAW" ... "your share of the winnings is $950,000.00" "Enclosed is a check for $8965.25." They then ask me to pay a "clearance fee" of $7897.00!!! Has anyone else received this letter?
Smartnlaw
September 28, 2019

In reply to by Donald

Yes my father just called me and sent me a copy of the check. Same amount, same story. SCAM
Georgie
December 26, 2019

In reply to by Donald

I just received an almost identical letter/check, from Trajan P. Corporation, and just finished reporting it to FTC. These scammers are just the worst kind of human.
Robinson
November 03, 2020

In reply to by Amanda

Some guy from Craigslist is posting Warehouse jobs. Description is warehouse delivery shipping and receiving. It’s all been communication via email although the application process was I guess just submitting your resume. Afterwards I received these emails stating I was hired, description of duties and pay process. Ending with - I’ll be sending you a check for expenses and you keep a sum and go purchase the supplies with the rest. Totally bogus list of supplies - art paintings (No artist named) but titles of some kind of artistic paint title name. Still can’t even google - “The Legacy” and find it as an oil painting. Anysky - robot recruiter is sending me a check for 2500 dollars. Can you even cash that thing ?
LarryP
September 05, 2018
This infographic is great though it comes a little too late for me. What it doesn't say is that the consumer cannot hold the bank responsible for a fraudulent check. There is no recourse. When a consumer endorses and cashes a check, the money becomes the consumer's responsibility. A "cleared" check may not be a valid check.
Ardswoman
September 28, 2018

In reply to by LarryP

You are so right! A "cleared" check may not be a valid check. My bank sent notice that the availability for an 'over $7000' check was put on hold. Three days later the hold was lifted, but the funds were still not available. It's the law that the bank can hold a check up to 3 days.
rikoshea
September 05, 2018
thanks for the tip I would never take a check without investigating it first plus talk with my bank.I got a letter from an insurance co.to do an application over that I already got rejected because of past operations.They requested a blank check along with the new application which I did not do as I already sent them a voided blank check the last time.The thing that was fishy is that this application said reply by 8/22/18 when I got this application was on 9/1/18 and to send a blank check that was for my bank to send money to the insurance co if I got approved.#1 I would never send a blank check without voiding the check.What I did was send back the blank application explaining I got turned down already a month ago along with copy of letter I sent with my last application.That ins was AARP New York Life.Maybe someone duplicated it all trying to get a blank check?
Randy
January 18, 2019

In reply to by rikoshea

I am selling a motorcycle on Craigslist. A buyer contacted me and is sending me or sent me four times the amount that I asked for. I thought this strange. I showed the check to the bank manager. She said, that she thinks it is a scam and that is a fake check. She suggested I contact the police. Unfortunately the agency that takes care of bank fraud and bad checks is closed due to the shutdown. What do I do now I really don't know
Tsd1978
October 02, 2019

In reply to by martian645

Same here. I have to wait 7 business days to see if the check is real or not. The bank thinks its fake. What is going to happen now?
Abc
September 02, 2021

In reply to by Randy

Just had a similar experience, the buyer got really suspicious and even tried to intimidate and threatened me. Harassing with texts, etc.. Everything was so fishy!!!
hipthe
September 05, 2018
Awesome information. Thank you for sharing!!
scammed
December 20, 2019

In reply to by hipthe

Best and fastest way to clear this and find out if it is fraudulant or not is to simply call the bank that the check was issued from.
SCAM TO DAY GO…
September 27, 2018
I HAVE A FOLDER IN MY EMAIL. I THINK MANY OF THEM IF NOT ALL ARE SCAMS. ALL HAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS. SHOULD I SEND THEM TO YOU? SO YOU CAN LOOK THEM OVER? OR IS THERE ANOTHER GROUP THAM CAN SEE WHAT THEY ARE?
FTC Staff
September 27, 2018

In reply to by SCAM TO DAY GO…

You can forward unwanted or deceptive messages to the FTC at spam@uce.gov.

Herbert Dale suter
December 24, 2018

In reply to by SCAM TO DAY GO…

Iwas scamed need my money back it's Christmas please
DonJ
September 05, 2018
My minor son listed his bicycle for sale on Craigslist and a potential buyer tried this. Luckily I found out and contacted the scammer, who denied it was a scam. She wanted to send someone to pick up the bike. She would mail a check in the meantime. I hope taking advantage of a minor is a worse offense and has worse consequences. Criminals have no conscience.
Don't use yoEl…
September 05, 2018
"What it doesn't say is that the consumer cannot hold the bank responsible for a fraudulent check. There is no recourse" Why would the bank be responsible? For all the bank knows, you printed the fake check yourself. That's not an uncommon scheme, then try to blame it on mysterious third parties. Be glad the bank doesn't try to press charges on you for passing bad paper.
lynki
September 05, 2018
Be careful too of Money orders. Scammers love to use those.
Rooster1
June 06, 2019

In reply to by lynki

Be careful of ANY check. Any bank check can be counterfeited by a scammer, including Certified Checks and Cashiers Checks. Scammers are counting that you DON'T KNOW what the "real thing" looks. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REAL THING LOOKS LIKE, DON'T BITE!!! Google the Bank's name to make sure it exists. Call or visit a them to verify hat they issued the check or that it's drawn on a real account. Forty years ago when interest rates were over TWENTY PERCENT, a Lincoln-Mercury dealer was happy to sell a new Lincoln for the MSRP, about $22,500, for a certified check -- a cash equivalent. The "certified check" was drawn on the "East Bank of the Mississippi". It took the Fed about two weeks to get the bogus check back to the hapless dealer's bank by which time the fraudster and the new Mark were long gone ! To quote the late President Reagan: "TRUST BUT VERIFY"!
M Aguiong
September 05, 2018
About 2 years ago, 4 unknown people from different states called our company, in a span of two weeks, regarding checks they said had a return address of our business address, but the checks showed different business name and addresses. We asked all four of them to send us the checks. Sure enough, they were fake checks, with 4 different company names but the same looking check signed by the same person. We are so glad that these people were smart enough to realize that something is off. These 4 people must have googled the addresses and realized that it is not the correct business, the reason they called us first instead of running to the bank and cashing them. The checks ranged from $740 to $2300. By the way, these 4 separate checks were made out to real names and their real home addresses. Very scary. Please readers, do not cash any fake-looking check, especially if it is from an unknown source, without taking it to your bank first and have it examined by them.
Loyal
January 18, 2019

In reply to by M Aguiong

I had same thing happen and was told to send majority of funds to the sender.. As you can assume i cashed the checks at a few different costumer service center's like walmart; there were 4 all together iv recently received a federal charge for 1. Which then i became aware of the actions iv put myself in. And i have attempted to contact the institutes where i cashed the checks to pay them back. However the institutes say any information on those over a month is passed on to verify a check where they handle the process for returning there funds for cashing the false checks.. Dose any 1 have any good idea of what i can do to keep these other 3 also from turning into fed charges too?
Jesse
May 17, 2019

In reply to by Loyal

HI. I am going through something similar right now, I just wanted to know if you have any updates on your situation? This sucks so much especially because we tried to do the right thing but still are paying for it. Thanks, I hope something worked out.
Sumatym
May 18, 2019

In reply to by Loyal

Omg I cannot believe your getting fed charges for it. Did you know it was a fake check before hand? if not aren't you a third party victim then? How can you be penalized for someone else's scam? I received a check also, I am scared to cash it now even though the bank on the check verified the money was there. My bank said it will take 10 days for it to be available. idk it just dont feel right but I am in desperate need of the money it was supposed to be a check for payment of my microblading license. I am a single mom with no help at all! and this would destroy me and my daughter's lives if it is bad. These scammers gotta have no heart to willingly destroy families and lives like that. I honestly dont understand how being victimized is a crime.
Ida
July 11, 2019

In reply to by Sumatym

Something similar happened to me and still waiting on what will happen since my bank isn't or I may say won't do nothing about cause I was scam not them. All they want is there money. But have hopes that maybe the investigator can do something because I didn't know the check was fake even after the bank cleared the next day. What has this world come to letting these people scam us and get away with it.
Researcher2
September 05, 2018
I was alerted to my fake check scam because the company name was Z, the name on the check was Y, and the name on the envelope was X. A friend or frenemy told me about a "Virtual Assistant" job. I hope she was caught and arrested.
JohnK
November 22, 2018

In reply to by Researcher2

It is getting even more high tech now. I was contacted thru LinkedIn about a job from one of the contacts I had. A cashiers check was sent to me via UPS and I deposited it. The funds were made available immediately. I was contacted to purchase equipment from a supplier and I was so excited about this job I went ahead and forwarded the money to an account they provided. Obviously the check had no funds attached and I was scammed for the money. I contacted my local bank and wanted to alert them to this assuming the account I forwarded this money to would be closed and gone. But to my surprise the company is a large shipper in TX and they are able to see my deposit. My bank contacted the other bank and we are waiting to here from them. The question I asked was if a deposit was made for service and no service was rendered how do I get my money back? The scam is obviously being run by an operator within this large shipping company’s accounting department. Because I’m told the deposit I made would certainly be lost in the large amounts of money coming in and out of that company.
DonK
December 18, 2018

In reply to by JohnK

Can you please tell us who the company was? Everyone wants to keep them secret, but all that does is allow them to keep taking advantage of people. I have a company called JCOM from japan that wants to hire me, but is telling me I can't be trained until I receive some special equipment. They will send me a check for $7500 and then I am to purchase the equipment. Sounds like a scam to me.
PS
January 16, 2019

In reply to by DonK

I have been contacted by the same company JACCS Co. Ltd from Japan. Did this turn out to be a scam?
jamar42
January 23, 2019

In reply to by DonK

While.looking for employment online thru zip recruiter? indeed , career.com etc. I was emailed and texted by Dr. Juan Carlos sent a cashiers check ( pic below ) to purchase office eqiupment !? I was to deposit check and email copy of deposit slip AND a copy of my drivers license ( NOT ) . Its very unfortunate that these scammers are so low to prey on people like me just looking for a job to make ends meet
BeenAroundTheBlock
February 14, 2019

In reply to by DonK

Yep, as a matter of fact this guy from JCOM alleging to be Hiroyuki Nakatani of Jupiter Telecommunications Ltd. in Japan texted and emailed me after seeing my resume on Indeed. Claimed they are entering the US market. Wanted to offer me a clerical job that day (I told him it was too junior - so he says “okay you now Sales Director). Uh-huh, sure. FYI the guy and the company do exist, but this joker is using a TN cell number claiming he commutes from Tokyo to Nashville (doesn’t everybody?). Anyhoo I noticed their email domains, the website domain in the email, and the legit website domain don’t match at all. Plus the legit company LinkedIn site makes no mention of their plans to offer cable and VOIP in this market. I blocked him and sent in a complaint.
Cay24
February 25, 2019

In reply to by DonK

Did you ever hear back from JCOM.. they just contacted me a few days ago im trying to see if they are LEGIT LEGIT, i mean i spoke to they "HR".. had a whole skype interview.. And i went on the website. I wasnever offered a check. And I was told my payrate. and start date. Did you ever hear back?
JPo
September 30, 2019

In reply to by Researcher2

Me too! Received a check for a virtual assistant job. It sounded great, at first. But too many red flags. Now they want me to get a cashier's check from the bank and deposit it into their account. They bother me about 5 times a day if I've done that yet. Scam. I'm not going to do it.
dont trust
October 30, 2019

In reply to by Researcher2

I'm just going through it right now. The name on the envelope is totally different from the name of the company and the name written on my check. It is so sad to know people still doing it by these days. I worked for 14h for a guy and the payment was supposed to be this trap!
glenns
September 05, 2018
What about when an employees of the USPS steals you check, rewrites it, cashes it? Now ever account /bill has to be changed to a new checking accounting. Someone steals and the consumers receives no recomponse for all the money lost, time, aggravation. Not even an apology - meaningful one.
FTC Staff
September 27, 2018

In reply to by glenns

You can report identity theft to www.IdentityTheft.gov and create a personal recovery plan. You can get letters and forms you need to repair problems caused by identity theft.

gg
September 05, 2018
great info..thanks for making this info available. Unfortunately there and too many people who are not online and may become scam victims unknowingly...before they realize what has happened to them.
DavidLee
September 07, 2018

In reply to by gg

OMG!!! This scam has been running for years. Is it possible that the FTC is just now releasing a consumer warning??
Old Fellow
September 05, 2018
Go along with there bull and send them a fake check.
Heidy
September 05, 2018
What if they send you 2 checks and they keep asking to depoisite it
J
September 08, 2018

In reply to by Heidy

Don't deposit it! Maybe try and get them by going to the bank that the check is drawn from, bring your electric bill or some mail or other bill that came with your name on it, tell them you don't have a drivers license( so no license #),and CASH it!
FTC Staff
September 27, 2018

In reply to by Heidy

You are responsible for the checks you deposit. If you deposit a bad check, and take money out right away, but the bank later finds out that the check isn't good, you will have to repay the bank.

Under federal law, the bank must give you some of the money from a check you deposit right away. But that doesn't prove that the check is legitimate. It can take weeks for a bank to find out that a check is no good. You are taking a risk if you deposit a check from someone you don't know and give them cash now. You could end up owing the bank money later.

mmteagan
August 10, 2019

In reply to by FTC Staff

I have a very specific situation and I need to know if i’m going to be up the creek without a paddle. I was scammed into giving my bank info, the scammer mobile deposited two bad checks. I did not touch them and I called the bank immediately after noticing the large sum of money added to my account. They said that they will have to trace the IP address to make sure my phone didnt input the check, but is there any way a scammer can make it look like my phone did the mobile deposit?