Check Fraud is Prevalent

What is Check Fraud?

Check fraud can take many forms
Often check fraud involves the attempt to pay for products or services using a stolen, altered, or counterfeit check. Some instances of fraud include writing a check to a business or individual with knowledge that there are not enough funds in the account to cover the amount.

These schemes exploit a federal law that requires banks to make money from check deposits available to account holders in just a few days. But it can take weeks to identify a fraudulent check. At that point, it’s too late — your money is gone.

What to watch for
Here are a few common ways check fraud happens.

Lottery or inheritance schemes

A scammer may contact you saying you’ve won a lottery or other prize or received an inheritance. They send you a fake cashier’s check for a large amount and ask you to pay taxes and fees on the lottery winnings or inheritance.

Overpayment scams

Someone may pretend to buy something from you online and then send you a check for more than the asking price or amount requested. The buyer then asks for the overpayment back.

Mystery shopping schemes

A person contacts you claiming to be organizing mystery shoppers for a company that sells gift cards or money orders. They send you a check to deposit in your personal account, and then transfer some of the money elsewhere — an accomplice to the fraud. This person disappears with your money.

Unsolicited check schemes

You may receive a check in the mail you weren’t expecting, often for only a few dollars. You may think it’s a rebate on something you bought. But in reality, it may be a fake check scam. By cashing the check, you could be unknowingly signing up for a membership or taking out a loan that will draw on your account every month, through a program that’s difficult to cancel.

You’re asked to buy gift cards or send a money order.

Fraudsters often ask their victims to purchase gift cards and then read the PINs to them. Others ask to be sent a money order. Doing either is like sending cash, and it’s almost impossible to get your money back.

You’re being asked to pay to receive a prize.

A prize isn’t free if you’re being asked to pay for it in any way.

You’re paid with a check for more than you’re owed.

Don’t accept it.

You’re asked to send money overseas.

It’s difficult to track down scammers in another country.

You’re told you won a sweepstakes you never entered.

Be suspicious of being told you won a contest you never entered.

You’re pressured to send money right away.

Why the rush? The scammers want you to send money before your bank bounces the check.

Here are a few best practices.

Limit check writing by using your NVB Debit Card, Online Bill Pay or ACH payments for business customers.

Don’t accept a check from someone you don’t know.

Don’t send or wire money to strangers, neither individuals nor companies.

Don’t cash a check you’re not expecting.

Verify if a cashier’s check is valid before depositing it.

Monitor your account daily using the NVB Mobile app or online banking.

Protect your business from check fraud.

Follow these steps to limit risk and prevent financial loss:

Safeguard your check stock.

Limit check writing by using:

–NVB Debit Card
–NVB Credit Card
–ACH & Wire Payments
–NVB Business Bill Pay
–NVB Positive Pay

Use NVB Real Time Alerts.

Monitor your account activity daily via Online or Mobile Banking.

Check Fraud is Prevalent

What is Check Fraud?

Types of Check Fraud

What are some signs of check fraud?

How can I avoid check fraud?

Protect your business from check fraud.

Follow these steps to limit risk and prevent financial loss:

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