What to do if you get a counterfeit check?

If you think you’ve been targeted by a counterfeit check scam, report it immediately to any of the following agencies: The Federal Trade Commission at FTC Complaint Assistant (www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov). The U.S. Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov (if you received the check in the mail).

What to do if you get a fake FDIC check?

Make sure the check was issued by a legitimate bank. While some counterfeit checks will include a legitimate bank’s name, a fake name is a sure giveaway. FDIC BankFind allows you to locate FDIC-insured banking institutions in the United States.

How can I get a visa from a fake website?

Fake agents may say they can speed up the process of getting a visa and may ask for payment in iTunes vouchers or into a personal bank account for the progression of a visa application. Fake websites are designed to look like official ones for the UK government or its official visa enquiry services.

What should I do if I suspect fraud on my credit report?

Place a fraud alert on your credit report to prevent someone from opening credit accounts in your name. Report Suspected Tax Fraud. Report suspected tax fraud to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You may be eligible to claim a Whistleblower Informant Award for reporting the fraud.

What to do if you think you have been scammed?

Contact your creditors and ask for your accounts to be closed or for account numbers to be changed. Order your credit reports and read them for accuracy. Put a fraud alert on your credit files.

What happens if you send someone a fake check?

In a fake check scam, a person you don’t know asks you to deposit a check— sometimes for several thousand dollars, and usually for more than you are owed — and send some of the money to another person. The scammers always have a good story to explain why you can’t keep all the money.

What happens if you are the victim of a fraud?

If you are the victim of a con, scam, or act of fraud, you may also be dealing with identity theft and financial loss. Unfortunately, if you are the victim of financial fraud, it is up to you to put your financial life back in order. It can take over a year to recover from this type of crime.

How much money has been lost to fake checks?

In its most recent Data Spotlight, Don’t bank on a “cleared” check, the FTC reports that consumers lost more than $28 million to fake check scams in 2019 alone. The median loss reported was $1,988. That’s more than six times the median loss on all frauds tracked by the FTC.