The recent revision to Bankstuffers Fake Check Scams brochure says, "..just because funds are available on a check you've deposited doesn't mean the check is good. It's best not to rely on money from any type of check....unless you know and trust the person you are dealing with or, better yet - until the bank confirms that the check has cleared. Forgeries can take weeks to be discovered and untangled." and then, "The bottom line is that until the bank confirms that the funds from the check have been deposited into your account, you are responsible for any funds you withdraw against that check."

Does anyone know of a foolproof way to confirm that a check will not be returned?

Ask the customer to go to the bank that the check is drawn off and convert to a cashier's check or cash at the bank.

Here is another thread about the issue of funds availability - it was definitely an eye opener for me
http://www.bankersonline.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1229051#Post1229051

Also, I think most people will argue against the bank being able to "confirm the funds" - the depositor is always responsible

Well that only adds to the confusion of everything . . . our bank told us the check was clear, and the funds were in our account . . . then a week later they called us and told us that the check was counterfeit and that we owed them the money.

Where is this document and who distributes it? If you have quoted it correctly it needs to be revised because just because the check shows up as "clear" does not mean that it is a good check.

I have been told that the only REAL way to know if the check is good is to take it to the bank of issue and ask them to check it off of their ledger to verify that it is a good check and that there is enough money in the account to cover it.

Shawn Mosch
Co-Founder of ScamVictimsUnited.com

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