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Action Guide Scams & Fraud Reviewed Sep 7, 2026 Source: Federal Trade Commission

Fake Check Scam

What to do when someone sends a check and asks you to send money back, buy equipment, pay a shipper or forward funds.

Start With First Steps Evidence Checklist Reporting Path Open Defentra
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01

Right Summary

The main consumer right or issue explained fast

Fake check scams exploit the delay between a bank making funds available and the check later being returned as fake or unpaid.

02

What This Means

Plain-English breakdown of the problem

The scam may appear as a job offer, marketplace overpayment, fake prize, mystery shopper task, rental transaction or fake business payment.

03

What To Save

Evidence that can matter later
Proof Receipts, bills, letters, emails, screenshots, account records, photos, videos or notices.
Timeline Dates, times, names, phone numbers, websites, payment details and support case numbers.
Responses Save every reply from the business, bank, collector, agency, platform or provider.

Save the check image, envelope, sender name, messages, emails, shipping labels, deposit receipt and any payment sent out.

04

What To Do First

The first clean action path

Contact the bank immediately, explain the suspected fake check and do not send any money from the deposited funds.

05

What Not To Do

Common mistakes that can make the issue worse

Do not assume cleared funds mean the check was real. Do not send money back. Do not buy gift cards or equipment from a check overpayment.

06

Where To Report Or Escalate

Possible complaint, agency, company or platform paths

Bank first, FTC ReportFraud.gov, platform involved and IC3 if the scam was online.

08

Defentra / Elite Action

How this resource connects to evidence, scanning and action

Use Defentra to save check images, messages and payment instructions before they disappear.

Open Defentra Report A Scam Elite Support
09

Source / Review File

Internal quality and trust signals
Resource Type Action Guide
Resource Area Scams & Fraud
Last Reviewed Sep 7, 2026
Primary Source Federal Trade Commission
10

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Educational Notice

Important limitation

This resource is educational and organizational. It is not legal advice, financial advice or a guarantee of any outcome. Rights, deadlines, reporting paths and requirements can vary by state, account type, product, service, contract, agency rules and case facts.