Stopping Fraudulent Checks
What to do about Fraudulent Checks
Here are some important tips on How to deal with fraudulent checks, for shoppers and merchants.
What do I do if someone is using my checks?
If your checks have been stolen or misused, close the account and ask your bank to notify the check verification service with which it does business. While no federal law limits your losses if someone steals your checks and forges your signature, state laws may protect you. Most states hold the bank responsible for losses from a forged check. At the same time, most states require you to take reasonable care of your account. For example, you may be held responsible for the forgery if you fail to notify the bank in a timely manner that a check was lost or stolen. Contact your state banking or consumer protection agency for more information.You can contact major check verification companies directly for the following services:
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To request that
they notify retailers who use their databases not to accept your
checks, call:
TeleCheck:
1-800-710-9898 or 927-0188Certegy, Inc. (previously Equifax Check Systems):
1-800-437-5120 - To find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name, call: SCAN: 1-800-262-7771