Fake check scams are on the rise — and there are several variations of this type of check fraud.
Typically, scammers ask you to deposit or cash a counterfeit check and quickly send them back a portion of the money.
Important: It can take weeks to spot a fake check after it’s been deposited. Be careful because you may be responsible for the full amount of the check. And if you transfer or send money to a check scammer, we may not be able to recover those funds.
Here are three steps that can help you avoid fake check scams.
Step 1: Know the common fake check scams.
The key to these scams is that you’re asked to act quickly, deposit a fake check, and send back a portion of the funds before your bank can spot the fraud.
Here are examples:
Overpayment Scam: Someone sends you a fraudulent check for a product or service, but the amount is higher than the price you agreed upon. You’re asked to return the “overpayment.”
Employment Scam: Someone posing as an employer who wants to hire you sends a fake check as an advance payment or to cover expenses. You’re asked to send back the “extra money.”
Lottery or Sweepstakes Scam: Scammers say you’ve won prize money. They send a fake check and ask for a partial payment in return, claiming it's for processing fees, taxes, or another phony reason.
If you receive a check related to a deal that seems too good to be true, trust your instincts.
Be skeptical, don’t deposit the check, and verify that it’s real before taking any action.
Step 2: Look for the fake check warning signs.
If you're suspicious about a check you received, ask yourself:
- Is the check for more than you expected?
- Are you being pressured to quickly make the deposit and return some of the money?
- Did you receive unusual instructions on how to deposit the check?
- Were you asked to send money back using an immediate form of payment such as a money order, gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency?
- Were you asked to give someone cash or an immediate payment through Zelle® or other payment apps?
- Are you being threatened with law enforcement action?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, don’t deposit the check.
Step 3: When in doubt, stop and let us help you.
Fake check scams can be complex.
If you are ever unsure about a check you’ve received, we are here to help.
Bring the check to your local Wells Fargo branch and let us assist you.
If you’ve already deposited a suspicious check and suspect you are the victim of fraud, contact us right away.
Terms and conditions apply. Setup is required for transfers to other U.S. financial institutions, and verification may take 1–3 business days. Customers should refer to their other U.S. financial institutions for information about any potential fees charged by those institutions. Mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply. See Wells Fargo’s Online Access Agreement for more information.
Enrollment with Zelle® through Wells Fargo Online® or Wells Fargo Business Online® is required. Terms and conditions apply. U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. For your protection, Zelle® should only be used for sending money to friends, family, or others you trust. Neither Wells Fargo nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle® - for example, if you do not receive the item you paid for or the item is not described or as you expected. The Request feature within Zelle® is only available through Wells Fargo using a smartphone. Payment requests to persons not already enrolled with Zelle® must be sent to an email address. To send or receive money with a small business, both parties must be enrolled with Zelle® directly through their financial institution’s online or mobile banking experience. For more information, view the Zelle® Transfer Service Addendum to the Wells Fargo Online Access Agreement. Your mobile carrier's message and data rates may apply. Account fees (e.g., monthly service, overdraft) may apply to Wells Fargo account(s) with which you use Zelle®.
Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.
QSR-01242025-5831650.1.1
LRC-1023
FAQs
If you unknowingly deposit a counterfeit check, it's impossible to access those funds. They're gone. Worse, the bank might hold you personally liable for any losses they incur if the check was fraudulent. Then there is a risk that a criminal investigation may be opened if the check is determined to be counterfeit.
How to protect yourself against fake check scams? ›
Here are some tips to keep in mind to help protect yourself from check fraud when sending money to others:
- Pay digitally. ...
- Use your bank to send checks on your behalf. ...
- Consider the type of check-writing pen you use. ...
- Use mailboxes that are secure. ...
- Keep your bank account information safe.
While there are many ways to fabricate a fake check, there are just as many warning signs of counterfeit checks.
- Irregular perforations.
- Missing check numbers.
- Incorrect routing codes.
- Odd magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) lines.
- Notations in the memo area.
- Stains or discolorations on the check.
- Other discrepancies.
If you unknowingly deposit a counterfeit check, it's impossible to access those funds. They're gone. Worse, the bank might hold you personally liable for any losses they incur if the check was fraudulent. Then there is a risk that a criminal investigation may be opened if the check is determined to be counterfeit.
How do you not get scammed with a certified check? ›
Verify that the check written is genuine
The financial institution should be able to help you determine whether or not the check issued is genuine. Don't trust the phone number for the financial institution listed on the check, it might be fraudulent. Do your research and find the real phone number of the institution.
How to verify if a check is real? ›
Every legitimate check contains a number that appears in two places: in the upper-right corner and in the magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line at the bottom. If the numbers don't match, it's a bogus check. And be wary of low numbers, such as 101-400 on a personal check or 1,000-1,500 on a business check.
What happens if someone gives you a fake check to cash? ›
The check will bounce, and you will be forced to repay the bank as the account holder. End the transaction (and communication) immediately. If you discover you're dealing with a scammer, immediately end all communications and attempt to reverse any transactions that you've already made. Report the fraud.
What happens if you accept a fake check? ›
The consequences of depositing a fake check — even unknowingly — can be costly. You may be responsible for repaying the entire amount of the check. While bank policies and state laws vary, you may have to pay the bank the entire amount of the fraudulent check that you cashed or deposited into your account.
Can someone steal your bank info from a check? ›
The short answer: Real damage. The combination of a bank account and routing number is a dangerous combo that scammers want. And those two numbers are fairly accessible. Think about how often these numbers get circulated: every time a check is written, cashed, signed over to someone else.
Can fake checks be mobile deposited? ›
Mobile deposit scams, or fake check scams, involve fraudsters depositing fake checks into victims' bank accounts to gain access to their money. Once these deposits are made, victims are asked to withdraw the funds and return them, usually through a third-party money transfer account.
The scammer's motive is to get you to cash or deposit the check and send back legitimate money before you realize that the check you deposited is fake. In these cases, the scammer advertises a job opportunity and claims to be "hiring" people to work from home.
How long does it take for a bank to realize a fake check? ›
Fake Checks and Your Bank
By law, banks have to make deposited funds available quickly, usually within two days. When the funds are made available in your account, the bank may say the check has “cleared,” but that doesn't mean it's a good check. Fake checks can take weeks to be discovered and untangled.
Can your bank account be hacked by depositing a check? ›
Deposit a check from someone does not directly make your account vulnerable to hacking. However, it is important to be cautious and aware of potential scams and fraudulent activities that can occur when depositing checks from unknown individuals.
What happens if a scammer sends you a check? ›
Fraudsters send a victim a large check, tell the person to deposit it in their bank account, then have them send the money elsewhere. It seems safe because the money appears in their account -- it's only later that the check comes back as worthless. The victim must pay back the bank, and their own money is gone.
How can I verify a check online for free? ›
To do this, you will need to speak with the bank that issued the check via phone or in person. Unfortunately, there is no free way to verify a check online.
Do banks refund scammed money? ›
If you paid by bank transfer or Direct Debit
Contact your bank immediately to let them know what's happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you've transferred money to someone because of a scam.
Can someone steal your identity with a fake check? ›
Monitor Your Credit and Identity
Check fraud won't necessarily affect your credit. But criminals who steal checks from your mail or scam you into sending them money might also collect other personal information and try to steal your identity.
