Today's printing technology has made it easy for criminals to effectively counterfeit and forge personal, bank, and even cashier's checks. But if you are aware of some of the signs of fake checks, you may be able to save yourself and your bank quite a bit of trouble.

Paper and Perforations

Feel the paper on which the check is written. Does it feel like paper that you would use in your home printer, or is it heavier, like the paper real checks are written on? Look for perforation marks. Even if a check is produced in a laser printer, it will have "tear" marks on the top or the bottom. A check without any perforations is suspect.

Names and Addresses

First, look at the names of the bank and the person or company who wrote the check. Even a savvy counterfeit artist can misspell a name or change a company to one that does not exist. Also look at the addresses. Are they missing or misspelled? Do they refer to an address that does not exist?

Printing and Fonts

First look at the micro-encoding, or MICR, at the bottom of the check. Real MICR print does not have a "shine" because it actually contains metal fibers. Shiny MICR lines may mean that the check is a fake. Also, look at the general quality of the printing. Do the fonts match in all sections of the check or are there inconsistencies?

Memo Section

Personal checks are more likely to have something written in the memo section at the bottom left hand side. If you find a business check with something obvious written in the memo section, such as "for payroll," you may have a forgery, because businesses often do not use the memo section.

Alterations, Erasures, or Discoloration

Checks that have been chemically "washed" may have slight discoloration in the backgrounds. Plus, a check that has been stolen and changed may have alterations or erasures that you can detect if you examine the printing carefully.

Source:

FakeChecks.org

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

Ckfraud.org

More Information:

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)