Fake Cheque Scams

A fake cheque scam exploits a gap in how banks process deposited cheques. The scammer sends you a cheque — often framed as a salary advance, an overpayment for something you're selling, or funds to buy supplies for a new job. You're asked to deposit it and forward part of the money onward. Days or even weeks later, the cheque bounces, and you owe the bank the full amount you forwarded.

The cheques used in these scams are often convincingly printed with real bank details or routing numbers, and may carry fake watermarks and security features. The receiving bank cannot immediately detect fraud because the cheque appears to originate from a legitimate institution. The critical window between 'appearing in your account' and 'actually cleared' is the gap the scammer exploits.

This scam appears in employment contexts — particularly fake PA, logistics, or freelance roles — as well as in online marketplace overpayments and prize notifications. The common thread is always the instruction to deposit and forward funds quickly.

The scam typically begins with a fake job offer or an unexpected communication. In employment variants, you are hired as a remote assistant, bookkeeper, or payment processor. Soon after, a cheque arrives — usually for more than your agreed salary or the expected amount — with instructions to deposit it and forward the surplus to a named account, which is described as a vendor, supplier, or business partner.

In marketplace variants, someone 'overpays' for an item you're selling and asks you to refund the difference via bank transfer to a third party before you check whether the cheque has genuinely cleared.

The critical mechanism is the bank's provisional crediting. Most banks make deposited funds available within one to two business days, before the cheque has actually cleared through the issuing bank's system. The full clearing process can take several days to weeks. Scammers know this delay exists and instruct victims to transfer money during the window when funds appear available but have not been verified.

When the cheque eventually bounces — marked as counterfeit, drawn on a closed account, or altered — the bank reverses the provisional credit. You now have a negative balance equal to the amount you forwarded, plus the cheque's face value. You are liable for both. The money sent to the scammer is gone.

The scam succeeds because of a widespread misunderstanding about how cheque clearing works. Most people assume that if money appears in their account, it has been verified and is theirs to spend. Banks reinforce this perception by making funds available before clearance is complete.

Scammers also add urgency — the transfer must happen today, the supplier is waiting, the client is expecting the refund. This pressure discourages victims from pausing to ask their bank whether the cheque has fully cleared. In job contexts, the pressure to perform well in a new role and follow the employer's instructions can override normal caution.

A person is hired as a remote personal assistant. Their new employer sends a cheque for [amount], saying it covers both their first week's pay and supplies they should purchase on the company's behalf. They deposit the cheque, see the funds appear in their account, buy [amount] in gift cards as instructed, and wire the remaining [amount] to a vendor account. Ten days later, the bank reverses the cheque and the person's account is overdrawn by the full deposited amount.

We've sent your first cheque early. Deposit it, keep [amount], and wire the rest to our supplier today.

I've paid [amount] for your item — accidentally sent too much. Please refund [amount] to my account and keep the rest.

Your starter cheque of [amount] covers your salary and equipment. Deposit and transfer [amount] to our vendor — keep the remainder.

Congratulations! Your prize cheque of [amount] is enclosed. Deposit it and forward [amount] as processing fees to claim the balance.

As our payment processor, deposit cheques received and forward 90% to the accounts listed — keep 10% as your commission.

We overpaid your invoice. Please wire back [amount] to the account below as soon as the cheque clears.

Before forwarding any money from a deposited cheque, ask your bank in writing whether the cheque has fully cleared — not just whether funds are showing as available. These are different things, and banks can confirm the distinction.

Be cautious of any situation where you receive more money than expected and are asked to pass on the difference. This structure — receive more, send back part — is a consistent indicator of cheque fraud regardless of how it is framed.

Verify any employer or buyer independently through official channels before acting on cheque-forwarding instructions.