How do I find out if a check is real before I take it to my bank?

Question

I recieved a check in the mail from ucla and I do not know if it is real, because I have never seen a ucla check before and before I take it to get cashed I need to know if it is real. I recieved a fake check in the mail before and took it to my bank and got all kind of chanrges that I had to pay even though I did nopt know the check wasn't real. So how would I find out? I already tried contacting the school.

Answer 1

You can't know for sure. In fact, the bank may accept it and then, later, determine it's not valid.

Your best bet is to, as you've done, contact the school.

If you have no reason to receive a check from UCLA, then I'd be suspicious.

Answer 2

HI
TO FIND OUT IF THE CHECK IS REAL OR FAKE CHECK THE
MICR NUMBER
MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
IT HELPS U TO KNOW THE routing number and account number

Answer 3

Hi

Well one way that has worked for me and help me in preventing bounce checks is to tell the bank teller to check if the check has has valid account number and if there is enough funds in their account to support the check.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Take it to the bank that issued it, and have it cashed. They can only tell you it will not clear, but cannot charge you for presenting a check from their bank.