how can you tell if a check is real or not?

Question

i received a check for $4,000 via fed ex but i'm afraid to cash it. does anyone know how can you tell a check is real or not?

Answer 1

Take it to your bank. If they accept it, deposit into your account, and a month later the money is still there, it's most likely good. Just because they accept it doesn't necessarily mean it's good - it could still be a forgery, or could bounce.

Jamesnbarnes isn't necessarily correct. If you cash a check, the bank will usually only do that if you have an account with them, and if the check isn't good, they can and probably will charge your account back for it. If you can take it to the bank it's written on, and THEY cash it for you, you're probably OK.

You must have some reason to be concerned or you wouldn't have asked the question. If that's the case, do not under any circumstances send your check for part of the money back to the recipient or to someone he or she designates - things like that are a very common scam. In fact, if the sender asks you to send part of the money to someone, it's almost certain that you're being scammed and that the check won't be good.

Answer 2

Is there a reason for you to be getting this check? Are you owed a settlement or money on something you sold?

First, note the bank name and check it out on the internet. The bank may not even exist.
Second, contact the bank directly (not with a phone number printed on the check, that could be a boiler room or some other scam). Use a phone number from anywho.com or yellow pages.com or someone listing legit phone numbers.

Lastly, your bank can contact this bank and verify the funds in the account before they even take it for cash or deposit. You may have to speak to a supervisor but do it. That way if the check is fake you are not liable because you wont cash or deposit it in your account.

One of the big scams now is for someone to buy something you have listed on ebay (or whereever) and send way more than the purchase price. They they contact you and "discover" their mistake and want you to send the excess money to them via western union. You later discover the check is fake and are out the money you sent them, plus the purchase price.

Another scam is you have won an overseas lottery (illegal in the United States) and they want you to send taxes to cover what should be taken out. They will even send you a check to cover those costs (the one you got) only u need to send the money IMMEDIATLY to claim your prize.

If you arent due any money through a legitamate source you are familar with, the check is probably connected with a scam

Answer 3

It is not whether the check is real or false. But it is whether the checking account got money.
If it is an overseas check, when you bank-in, the bank may pay you first. But later when it is bounced (means overseas account no money), the bank will ask you to return the money.
Some people get cheated in this way. First they bank-in the check, withdraw the cash. Send some money over to the sender. Then the check bounced and the bank as for return of withdraw cash. Finally the people lost the money they send over.
If the check is not a legitimate payment, do not cash it.

Answer 4

Call the Bank that's name is on the check and tell them you want to make sure it will clear. They do that all the time. If you are concerned go into the bank and ask. If it is good CASH it , don't deposit it into your account. If it is a bogus check it might cause a overdraft once the bank takes the money back out due to it being fake. If they cashed it, they have to deal with it if it was fake.

Answer 5

IF it looks like its copyed its fake
if name signature is fake
if whats its for is dumb