What Does a Fake Check Look Like? Signs of a Counterfeit

Check fraud remains a threat, with scammers constantly devising new methods. Understanding the signs of a counterfeit check is crucial for preventing financial losses and complications.

Understanding Legitimate Check Features

Legitimate checks include security features to prevent counterfeiting. Authentic checks are printed on high-quality, heavier paper that feels substantial and matte. This paper often includes embedded features like watermarks, visible when held to light.

Many checks also incorporate microprinting, tiny lines of text that appear as a solid line but become illegible or blurred if photocopied. Chemical alteration protection is another common feature; specialized paper will show stains or marks if someone attempts to alter the check with chemicals. Additionally, the routing and account numbers at the bottom of a legitimate check are printed with magnetic ink (MICR line), which feels flat and dull to the touch.

Key Indicators of a Counterfeit Check

Counterfeit checks often deviate from genuine security features. They commonly use thin, flimsy, or glossy paper, similar to standard printer paper, lacking authentic texture. Printing quality may also be poor, appearing blurry, faded, or inconsistent, with misaligned text or graphics.

A lack or poor replication of security features is a red flag; counterfeit checks may be missing watermarks, microprinting, or security threads, or these features might appear crude. The Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line at the bottom may look shiny or raised, indicating it was printed with regular ink rather than specialized magnetic ink. Incorrect or non-existent bank names, addresses, or logos, or logos that appear faded or scanned, often indicate fraud.

Other indicators of a counterfeit check include:
Suspect routing numbers that do not match the bank or are not in the standard nine-digit format, such as 0000 or very high numbers.
Misspellings and grammatical errors.
Discrepancies where the written amount does not match the numerical amount.
Signs of alteration like white-out or erased areas.
Signatures that look photocopied, unusually uniform, or are entirely absent.

Common Fake Check Scenarios

Fake checks are used in fraudulent schemes to trick victims into sending money. A common scenario is overpayment scams, where a check is received for an amount greater than agreed, and the recipient is instructed to return the difference. This often occurs in online sales or rental agreements, with the buyer or renter sending an excessive amount and requesting a refund.

Another prevalent tactic is the lottery or sweepstakes winning scam, where unsolicited checks claim to be prize money but require an upfront payment for “taxes” or “fees.” Mystery shopper or job scams also utilize fake checks, sending funds for supposed “supplies” or initial payments for non-existent employment opportunities. These narratives aim to create a sense of urgency and legitimacy around the fraudulent check, encouraging the victim to deposit it quickly.

Actions to Take with a Suspected Fake Check

If you suspect a fake check, do not deposit or cash it. Depositing a fraudulent check can lead to financial liability for the account holder, even if the bank initially makes funds available. Banks must make deposited funds available quickly, but it can take weeks for a check to clear and be identified as counterfeit. The bank will then likely debit your account for the full amount.

Contact the bank that supposedly issued the check using independently verified contact information, such as their official website, rather than any phone number printed on the check itself. Report the suspected fraud to federal authorities, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) if the check was received via mail. Keeping the check and any related correspondence as evidence is important for investigative purposes.