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Question & Answer
Question: I had a government check that looked suspicious. Is there any place to check to see if a government check is an authentic check?
Answer: You are pretty much on your own at the time of presentation, if the check is coming at you over the window.
If you're really suspicious, and you are located anywhere near a Secret Service Office, you can call and ask for either the Forgery Desk or the Counterfeit Desk. There are special agents that handle checks and currency, just as there are special agents that handle credit card fraud. The Secret Service tells me they will dispatch an agent immediately who will come to your office to verify whether or not you have an authentic government check.
If, on the other hand you are positive you have a bad government check, you should seize the check, and if you are not in an area covered by a Secret Service Office, call the local police department and let them contact the Secret Service after they have made the arrest of the passer.
Under any circumstances, the Secret Service will want to physically examine the check in question.
We can understand your concern. We've had reports from several parts of the country that have been presented with what are obviously color copies of government checks. Others are reporting a huge increase in attempts to cash color copies of traveler's checks. We know of at least 20 arrests for this activity in the past few months.
In the case above, the savings bank refused the check, which was for $6800. The presenter was trying to split the check and open an account. After he was refused, he tried two other banks in the area-and was turned down at both of those also.
He's still loose.
(Thanks to the Philadelphia Office of the Secret Service for their help in the response to this question)
Copyright © 1993 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 4, No. 3, 8/93
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