Does anyone have a counterfeit check guide... something that can be used by tellers and csr's... like a quick reference thing, that your are willing to share??

I seriously doubt you will find one or that it will be effective as the counterfeit landscape keeps changing. Our tellers usually are the ones to spot the fakes because they see (and feel) so many checks. They listen to their instincts about what seems right or seems odd.

You might also have better luck with your question if you were registered and "provable".

Good luck

BOL has an alerts and counterfeits page that might come in handy.
Alerts and Counterfeits

Anon I have training bulletins for our tellers. Sorry, but I will not share unless I know or vet the person I an sharing with. Send me a pm with your particulars.

I have found a lot of useful information on the US Secret Service E-Library Website. You have to register for it, but it has a huge database of counterfeit checks that you can search by just about any field you can imagine - remitter, bank, payee, etc.

Here is a link to their website It has been a long time since I signed up, so I don't remember how difficult it was, but it has proven quite useful. Several times I have been able to confirm that a cashier's check was counterfeit by finding an almost identical one in the database.

ThomasJ,
Thank you. Did not know about this, now I have to await the results of the screening process

Do not get your hopes up with the web site. I found the information dated. Usually, you can find more current info re counterfeits at BOL or through your own local or regional networks and associations.

The reason that I like the website is because the database contains information submitted from many different agencies, as well as fraud investigators at other banks. I myself have submitted information about counterfeit checks we have received.

I guess it is personal preferance and past experience that leads me to recommend this website. I also like to have multiple resources available when I am investigating something.

Just yesterday someone asked me to look at a cashier's check we suspected of being counterfeit, I typed the remitter's name into the search at the USSS website and came up with 30 "hits", some with actual images of the checks. It makes it much easier to convince the customer that they are being scammed when you can show them several images of checks that match their check and you can tell them, these are all counterfeit and I found them on the USSS website.

We have had such a problem with local commercial customers having their checks counterfeited that we put together a booklet containing copies of each check that each of the affected customers uses. The booklet is kept in a secure place---only senior tellers and teller supervisors have access. Additions are made occasionally as needed. It has saved us a bundle, both monetary and PR-wise.

Ever considered using positive pay?