Fake Check Scams Explained
(And What to Do)
Fake check scams are frustrating because they can look legitimate at first. Someone sends you a check, you deposit it, and your account may show the funds as available. Then, days later, the check is returned—and the money you sent back to the scammer is gone.
This scam shows up in a lot of different “stories,” but the core trick is always the same: the scammer wants you to send money back before the check fully clears.
How fake check scams typically happen
Scammers may pretend the check is connected to:
- A job offer (including “mystery shopper” roles)
- Selling something online
- An overpayment situation (“Oops, I sent too much—refund the difference”)
- A prize or sweepstakes
Once you deposit the check, they push you to send money back quickly. Often they request payment methods that are difficult or impossible to reverse, such as gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, or certain person-to-person payments.
Why it’s confusing: “available” doesn’t always mean “cleared”
A bank may make some funds available from a deposit before the check has fully cleared through the system. That doesn’t mean the check is legitimate. A fake check can be returned later, leaving you responsible for the deposited amount.
That gap—between availability and final clearing—is what scammers exploit.
The number 1 red flag
If someone sends you a check and asks you to send money back, treat it as suspicious. Legitimate businesses don’t operate this way, and safe transactions don’t require urgent refunds to strangers.
What to do if you receive a suspicious check
The safest move is to pause and verify.
- Don’t deposit the check until you’re confident it’s legitimate.
- Don’t send any money back, especially using irreversible payment methods.
- Keep records of messages, emails, and the check itself.
What if you already deposited it?
Act quickly. Don’t spend or transfer the funds and contact us right away so we can review the situation with you.
