Why do scammers send unsolicited cheques and why are they dangerous?
Fake cheques are sent to create a fabricated obligation to repay part of the stated value, exploiting the delay between a cheque appearing to clear and the bank discovering it is fraudulent.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
The unsolicited cheque scam, often called an overpayment scam or fake cheque fraud, operates by exploiting a gap in how banking systems handle cheques. When you deposit a cheque, the funds may appear in your account within a day or two — creating the impression that the cheque has 'cleared.' In reality, the final verification that the cheque is genuine can take up to ten business days. Scammers exploit the gap between funds appearing available and funds being truly verified.
The scam works like this: you receive a cheque for more than you were expecting, often in connection with a job offer, prize, or overpayment scenario. The sender asks you to deposit it and wire back the excess. You do so. Days later, the bank reverses the cheque deposit because it was fraudulent. You are left having wired real money of your own to the scammer, and the cheque amount is deducted from your account.
The psychological power of the scam comes from the fact that the victim has to take an action to send the money rather than the scammer simply taking it. This makes the victim feel responsible for the loss, which is both psychologically damaging and sometimes legally complicated — the victim authorised the wire transfer, which makes recovery harder to argue on fraud grounds.
Unsolicited cheques also arrive in mystery shopping scams, where someone is recruited to evaluate a money transfer service, instructed to deposit a cheque and then use the 'money' to make a wire transfer as part of the 'evaluation.' The evaluation framing makes the wire feel procedurally normal rather than suspicious.
Common red flags
- You received a cheque for more than was agreed or expected
- You are asked to wire back or forward part of a deposited cheque
- A 'mystery shopping' job involves depositing a cheque and sending money
- A 'lottery win' arrived as a cheque with a request to return processing fees
- The person who sent the cheque is vague about why it is for the wrong amount
What to do now
- Never wire or transfer money from a recently deposited cheque before it fully clears
- Ask your bank specifically whether a cheque has been fully verified before treating funds as available
- Return any unsolicited cheque without depositing it
- Report cheque fraud to your bank and your national consumer protection authority
- If you have already wired money, contact your bank immediately to attempt recall
Frequently asked questions
Can a cheque that cleared appear to clear and still be fraudulent?
Yes. Funds appearing in your account is not the same as final clearance. Banks provide provisional credit when a cheque is deposited, but the actual verification process continues in the background. If the cheque is returned as fraudulent, the provisional credit is reversed.
Why do banks not warn customers about this delay more prominently?
Many banks do provide disclosure, but it is often in terms and conditions rather than in the moment of deposit. Consumer awareness campaigns and teller training have improved this in some jurisdictions. When making large cheque deposits, asking the cashier directly about final clearance timing is good practice.