There are three types of cheque scam: counterfeit, forged and fraudulently altered.
- Counterfeit: A counterfeit cheque is printed to look exactly like those that are genuine but has been created and written by a criminal for the purposes of committing fraud.
- Forged: A forged cheque is one that’s been stolen from you and used by a criminal by forging your signature.
- Fraudulently altered: A fraudulently altered cheque is genuine but has been altered in some way before being paid in i.e. altering the payee’s name or the amount of the cheque.
How to protect yourself
Draw a line through any unused spaces on cheques and complete them using a ballpoint pen or permanent ink.
Keep your chequebook in a safe location and inform your bank of any missing or lost cheques.
Wait for cheques to clear before despatching goods or providing services.
Check bank statements regularly and report any unrecognised transactions to your bank immediately.
A-Z of scams
Take Five to Stop Fraud
Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment. Stop and think. It could protect you and your money.
STOP
Take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information. It could keep you safe.
CHALLENGE
Ask yourself, could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
PROTECT
Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.