Lost Check Be Cashed?

Question

Hello, I recently lost a check written out to me for $330. It was signed to my name and I did sign the back. Can someone besides myself cash this check if they find it? And how could they do that?

Answer 1

Legally, no.
Practically, yes.

By the letter of the law, whoever cashes the check must check for vlaid photo ID. But, in the real world, almost no-one asks, even at a bank. Even worse, since you endorsed it, you will probably never be able to make the case that it was cashed fraudulently, and the money will be unretreivable.

If you contact the check writer, they may be able to stop payment on the check and write you another one before it is too late.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Tell your mom to call the bank right away and put a stop payment on the check. Even though the check is already made payable to the school, thieves have ways of cashing it anyhow. Do it ASAP because whoever found it will try to cash it ASAP. The chances of someone stealing your mom's identity by using the info on her checks is very slim. Unless she printed her SS# on them (which I doubt), then they can't do it. They'd have to do something extreme like go to the address on the check and start snooping around in the mail or something. Also, they won't be able to access her account without her debit/atm card and PIN. So don't worry about that part. Just get that check cancelled so that your mom isn't out $175.

Answer 3

Many banks are bad about asking for ID so it could be cashed. You need to check with the person who gave you the check to if it's been cashed.
From now on do not sign the check until you are at the bank cashing or depositing it. Also, alert the bank that it was stolen/lost incase it has been cashed.

Answer 4

I'd contact the institution or person who wrote the check out to you. Then have them place a stop payment on it. It's shouldn't be cashed. But if it was there is a spray encoding on the back of the check that most banks can research and find out where and how it was cashed. Sorry to hear, and good luck!

Answer 5

So many people said it can't be legally cashed. They're all wrong. Unless you wrote a restrictive endorsement, such as "For deposit only," then the check can be transacted by whoever finds it. The bank is only liable for the last endorsement on the check. Unless the maker puts a stop on that check, this check is negotiable for anyone holding it.

Answer 6

All someone has to do is take that check to their bank and endorse it below your name to cash it.

I cash checks for my daughter like that all the time.
She signs the back and when I get to the bank I sign the back- leave with cash in hand.

Answer 7

Legally, someone can't cash it, but that doesn't mean that someone won't at least try. Contact the person who wrote the check to you and have them cancel the check. If you are willing, tell them that you will pay the "stopped check fee". Have them reissue a new one and you will be good to go!

Answer 8

Yes, someone who finds it can cash it, since you already endorsed it. They can take it to a bank or check cashing outlet if the policy there is to allow third party check cashing.

Never endorse a check until you ready to deposit or cash it.

Answer 9

yes they can because you endorsed it already..if the bank was smart they would id the person and refuse to cash the check if you are not present but not all bankers will do this..ex i used to cash my husbands check before we were married so i didnt have the same last name as him and he was not on my account..he would sign it and give it to me to cash..some bankers would cash it and some would not

Answer 10

Unfortunately, there ARE places that might be willing to do that. No, it is NOT legal, but it can still happen. If you are holding a check for a while before banking it, you should put FOR DEPOSIT ONLY and your account # on it to make this a BIT more difficult to do.