Someone sends you a check, your bank shows the money in your account a day later, and it all feels real — so you wire part of it back or ship the goods. Then, days on, the check bounces and the money vanishes, leaving you to cover it. That gap between “available” and “actually cleared” is the heart of the fake check scam. Our GetMyPassword team explains how to recognize it.
How the scam works
A scammer gives you a check or money order for some reason — a job, a prize, an overpayment, a rental deposit — and asks you to deposit it and then send part of the money elsewhere, or to ship an item. Your bank may make the funds available within a day or two, which feels like the check cleared. But “available” is not “cleared.” When the bank later discovers the check is fake, it reverses the deposit, and you are responsible for the full amount — including whatever you already sent on.
Common disguises
- Mystery shopper or “easy job” — deposit a check, keep some, wire the rest to “test a service.”
- Prize or lottery — a check to “cover taxes or fees” you must pay back.
- Overpayment — a buyer pays too much and asks you to refund the difference.
- Rental or pet deposit — a check for more than owed, with the extra to be returned.
The rule that protects you
One principle defeats every version: never send money back from a check until it has truly, fully cleared — which can take weeks, not the day or two it takes to “show up.” And no legitimate job, prize or buyer ever requires you to deposit a check and forward part of the money to someone else. If a deal depends on you wiring funds from a check you just received, it is a scam, however official the paperwork looks.
“The money is in your account” is not the same as “the check is good.” A real check never needs you to rush part of it back to a stranger.
How to protect yourself
Be wary of any arrangement that has you deposit a check and send money onward, and ask your bank to confirm a check has genuinely cleared before you rely on it — never just that the funds “show as available.” Avoid wiring money or buying gift cards for someone you have not met. Because these scams often pair with phishing for your bank login, keep your accounts behind a unique password from our password generator and two-factor authentication, so a fake check never becomes a real account breach.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fake check scam?
It is a scam where someone gives you a fake check, you deposit it, and your bank makes the funds available before discovering it is bad. You send part of the money onward or ship goods, then the check reverses and you owe the full amount.
Why does the money appear before the check bounces?
Banks often make deposited funds available within a day or two, but that is not the same as the check truly clearing, which can take weeks. A fake check can look “available” first and be reversed later, leaving you responsible.
How do I avoid a fake check scam?
Never send money back from a check until it has fully cleared, and ask your bank to confirm that — not just that funds show as available. No real job, prize or buyer needs you to deposit a check and forward part of the money to someone else.