With mobile banking, electronic payments, digital wallets and online transfers, it may seem like paper checks have become a thing of the past. They haven’t. 

People and businesses still use checks to pay rent, mortgages, contractors, employees, bills, gifts and other expenses. And whenever a payment method involves money moving from one person to another, criminals have an incentive to find ways to exploit it. 

That’s why check fraud remains an important consumer-protection issue. 

The Consumer Federation of America and America Saves are highlighting check fraud throughout August 2026 through their “Check Yourself: Stop Check Fraud Before It Starts” campaign. 

Never assume a check is safe just because it appears legitimate. 

What Is Check Fraud? 

Check fraud occurs when someone uses a check or checking-account information without authorization to obtain money. It can take several forms. 

1. Check Washing. Check washing involves altering information on a legitimate check — often the payee or dollar amount — so that the check can be deposited or cashed by someone else.
2. Forged Checks. A fraudster may create a fraudulent check or forge a signature or endorsement. The check may look convincing enough that a consumer does not immediately realize anything is wrong.
3. Stolen Checks. A check can be stolen from a mailbox, purse, vehicle, home, or business to alter, copy, or steal the account information.
4. Counterfeit Checks. Counterfeit checks can look surprisingly authentic. Arizona consumers can find fraud and scam resources through the Arizona Attorney General’s Consumer Protection page. If you believe you have been the victim of consumer fraud, you can also file a consumer complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office
5. Fake-Check Scams. Someone may send a consumer a check and ask the consumer to deposit compromising the consumer’s account and funds. A check may even initially appear to clear without being legitimate.

🚩 What Are the Warning Signs? 

• Someone unexpectedly sends you a check. 
• You’re told you’ve won a prize but must pay a fee first. 
• Someone sends you a check and asks you to send part of the money somewhere else. 
• A buyer sends more money than the agreed purchase price and asks you to refund the difference. 
• Someone pressures you to deposit a check immediately. 
• You’re asked to purchase gift cards or cryptocurrency after depositing a check. 
• A stranger or potential new employer asks you to deposit a check on their behalf. 
• The check comes with an unexpected story involving an inheritance, job, prize, refund or overpayment. 
• You’re asked to provide your banking information to “verify” a payment. 
• Urgency is one of the biggest warning signs. If someone tells you that you must act immediately, take a step back. 

What Can You Do to Prevent Check Fraud? 

• Be Careful With Your Mail: Don’t leave outgoing checks sitting in an unsecured mailbox. Use secure postal collection methods when possible. 
• Fill Out Checks Completely. Avoid leaving large blank spaces that could potentially be altered. Make sure the payee and amount are clearly written. 
• Monitor Your Bank Account. Regularly check your account for unauthorized checks or other suspicious activity. 
• Consider Your Payment Options. For some transactions, an electronic payment method may offer different protections and security features. No payment method is completely risk-free. 

What Should You Do If You Discover Check Fraud? 

Act quickly. 

If you discover an unauthorized check or forged endorsement, contact your bank or credit union as soon as possible. 

1. Preserve the Evidence. Keep the original check, if available; copies or images; bank statements; transaction records; emails; texts; letters; receipts; and other communications. Don’t delete potentially important evidence.
2. Notify Your Bank. Tell your bank exactly what happened and ask what steps are available to dispute the transaction and protect your account.
3. Monitor Your Accounts. Watch for additional unauthorized transactions.
4. Consider Identity-Theft Protection. If personal or financial information has been compromised, consider whether additional identity-theft precautions are appropriate.
5. Report the Fraud. Depending on the circumstances, you may want to report the fraud to your local law enforcement agency, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, or another appropriate agency. If the fraud involved the U.S. Mail, you could also report suspected mail theft or mail-related fraud to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. If the matter involves an unauthorized transaction with a bank or credit union, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also provides information about consumer rights and complaint options.

What If the Bank Says You Are Responsible? 

This is where things can become more complicated. 

Don’t assume that every fraudulent check transaction is automatically your responsibility — but don’t assume that the bank is automatically required to reimburse you either. 

The applicable protections can depend on how the transaction was processed, what happened to the check, when the fraud was discovered, and whether applicable state or federal law applies. 

For example, a check was processed. If you discover an unauthorized check, the CFPB recommends contacting your bank or credit union as quickly as possible and explains when additional federal protections may apply. 

That is one reason acting quickly matters. 

Keep Your Records 

Maintain contracts, advertisements, sales slips, proof of payment, warranties and other relevant records — while keeping the originals for your own files. Document first. Delete nothing. If something goes wrong, the evidence you preserve today may become important later. 

Check Fraud Isn’t Always Obvious 

One of the biggest misconceptions about fraud is that victims should have been able to “tell” something was wrong. 

Modern fraud doesn’t always look suspicious. 

• A check can look authentic. 
• A caller can sound professional. 
• A message can appear legitimate. 
• A payment can initially appear to have cleared. 

That’s why prevention isn’t about being suspicious of everyone. It’s about developing good habits: 

Pause. Verify. Monitor. Document. Act quickly. 

Resources for More Information 

• Arizona Attorney General — Frauds and Scams: https://www.azag.gov/consumer 
• Arizona Attorney General — File a Consumer Complaint: https://www.azag.gov/complaints/consumer 
• CFPB — Unauthorized Check: What Rights Do I Have?: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/i-discovered-an-unauthorized-check-written-on-my-account-what-rights-do-i-have-en-1021/ 
• CFPB — Forged Endorsement Guidance: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/i-wrote-a-check-and-someone-forged-the-endorsement-and-cashed-the-check-my-bankcredit-union-wont-return-my-money-to-my-account-am-i-responsible-en-995/ 
• CFPB — Stolen Check Guidance: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/i-wrote-a-check-but-it-was-stolen-and-cashed-by-the-thief-what-can-i-do-en-991/ 

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation is different. If you have questions about your specific circumstances, consider consulting with a qualified attorney.  

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