Fake Check Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Fake check scams trick victims into sending money by providing a fraudulent check that appears legitimate, leading to reported losses of $138 million in 2023 according to the FTC.
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How It Works
1
A scammer sends you a check that looks real. The reason for the check can vary widely, from overpayment for an item you're selling online, to winnings from a sweepstakes, to funds for a "secret shopper" job.
2
You are instructed to deposit the check into your bank account and then quickly send a portion of the money to another person or business. The scammer will provide a convincing reason for this, such as covering taxes, fees, or purchasing supplies.
3
Days or weeks later, your bank discovers the check was fraudulent. The full amount of the fake check is deducted from your account, and you are responsible for paying it back. The money you sent to the scammer is gone permanently.
Red Flags
- You receive a check for more than the expected amount and are asked to send the difference back.
- You are pressured to deposit the check and send money immediately, before the check has time to officially clear.
- The sender asks you to return money via wire transfer, gift cards, or a peer-to-peer payment app.
- The check is for winning a lottery or prize that you never entered.
- The job offer, such as a mystery shopper or car wrap gig, requires you to use the provided check to pay a third party.
- The check arrives unexpectedly from a person or company you don't know.
What to Do If Targeted
- Do not deposit the check. If you have already deposited it, do not spend the money.
- Immediately notify your bank that you believe you have received a fraudulent check.
- Cut off all communication with the person who sent the check.
- Do not send money to anyone based on receiving a check, especially via wire transfer, gift cards, or payment apps.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
- If you received the check in the mail, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission for all types of scams.
- FBI IC3 — Report internet-based crime, including fake check scams that originated online, to the FBI.
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service — Report fraud that used the U.S. Mail, such as receiving a fake check by mail.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- In 2023, the FTC received 32,164 reports categorized under 'Foreign Money Offers and Fake Check Scams,' with total reported losses of $138 million. — FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023
- The median loss reported in fake check scams was $1,900 in 2023. — FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023
- Adults aged 20-29 file the most complaints about fake check scams, accounting for 21% of the total. — BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, 2018
- Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) related to check fraud nearly doubled from 2021 to 2023, indicating a significant rise in this type of financial crime. — FBI & USPIS, 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is very difficult to tell if a check is fake just by looking at it. Scammers use sophisticated technology to create realistic forgeries, including cashier's checks and money orders. Instead of trying to verify the check yourself, you should be suspicious of the circumstances, such as being asked to send money back after depositing it.
No, your bank is legally required to make funds from a check available within a few days. However, it can take weeks for the bank to discover that the check was fraudulent. Once the check bounces, the bank will deduct the full amount from your account, and you will be responsible for repaying it.
Fake check scams affect people of all ages and income levels. However, data from the Federal Trade Commission shows that adults aged 20-29 are the most likely to report being a victim of this type of fraud.
Common scenarios include mystery shopper jobs, car wrap advertising gigs, online marketplace overpayments, and prize or sweepstakes winnings. In all these cases, the core of the scam is receiving a check and being instructed to send a portion of the funds elsewhere before the check is discovered to be fraudulent.
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