Check-Cashing & Fake Payroll Scams
Your new 'employer' mails you a check, asks you to deposit it and wire part of the funds to a vendor. The check bounces a week later.
A counterfeit cashier's check arrives in the mail with instructions: deposit it, then forward $X to a vendor, supplier, or charity via Zelle, wire, or gift cards. Banks typically make funds from a cashier's check available within 1–2 business days, but the actual clearing process takes 7–14 days. By the time the bank discovers the check is fake, the money you wired is gone — and you owe the bank the full amount you withdrew.
Red flags
- 01Job is described as 'personal assistant', 'mystery shopper', or 'administrative support'
- 02First task involves receiving and depositing a check on behalf of the company
- 03Urgent request to wire or send money to a third party from those funds
- 04Check arrives by overnight mail before you've even signed paperwork
- 05Amount is much larger than your expected first paycheck
Real-world example
"As your first task, you'll receive a $3,950 check tomorrow. Please deposit it immediately, keep $400 as your week-one bonus, and Zelle the remaining $3,550 to our office-supply vendor at vendor.coordinator@gmail.com. This tests our supply-chain process for your role."
Why this scam works
Most people don't know the difference between funds being 'available' (1–2 days) and 'cleared' (7–14 days). Federal regulation requires banks to make small cashier's check deposits available quickly, even though the bank hasn't yet verified the check is real.
What to do
- 01Never deposit a check from someone you haven't met in person at a verified business
- 02If you already deposited the check, contact your bank immediately and do not wire any funds
- 03Report the scam to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov — these scams are federal wire fraud
- 04Save all communications including envelopes and the check itself as evidence
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