Avoid Being Taken in by a Counterfeit Check Scam.

The increase in counterfeit cashiers and official checks can cost you thousands of dollars and because the checks look real, it's easy to be taken in. 

Counterfeit check scammers hunt for victims. They scan newspaper and online advertisements for people listing items for sale, check job sites from people seeking employment or place their own ads for people to contact them. And they call or send emails or faxes to people randomly, knowing that someone will take the bait. They often claim to be in another country and say it's too difficult to send you the money directly from their country, so they'll arrange for someone in the U.S. to send you a check. 

There are many variations used by scam artists including:

Scam: You've agreed to work at home by processing checks from their "clients." You deposit the checks and then wire them the money minus your "pay." Or you are sent a check for more than your pay, and are asked to wire them the excess.

Scam: In the sweepstakes and foreign money offer, you will be asked to wire them money for taxes, customs, bonding, processing, legal fees, or other expenses that must be paid before you can get the rest of the money.

Scam: You advertise something for sale, and you're contacted by a potential buyer who asks you to accept a check for more than the cost from someone in the U.S. who owes them money. You deposit the check, keep what you're owed and wire them the rest.

You don't have to wait very long to use the money, but that doesn't mean the check is good. Financial institutions have to make the funds you deposit available - usually within one to five business days (sometimes longer), depending on the type of check. Because you're responsible for deposited checks, the bounced check amount will be deducted from your account to recover the funds. It can take weeks for the counterfeit or forgery to be discovered and the check to bounce, making you responsible for the deposited check. 

There is no legitimate reason for anyone giving you money to ask you to wire money back. If you become a victim of a counterfeit check scam, contact the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch at www.fraud.org or call 800.876.7060.