Fraud & Cybersecurity Awareness

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STOP AND THINK: How to Protect Yourself from Check Fraud

09/09/2025

By: Fidelity Bank

STOP AND THINK: How to Protect Yourself from Check Fraud

As part of our Fraud Awareness Month series, Fidelity Bank is raising awareness about one of the oldest yet still very common scams: check fraud. While technology has changed the way we bank, checks remain a target for criminals who continue to find ways to manipulate them for financial gain.

Spotlight: How Check Fraud Works

Fraudsters often begin by stealing legitimate checks from mailboxes. Once they obtain a check, they may:

  • “Wash” the check, erasing important details and rewriting them to siphon money into their own accounts.
  • Alter or forge checks, changing payee names, amounts, or signatures.
  • Use stolen routing and account numbers to create counterfeit checks.

These schemes allow criminals to drain funds quickly, often before victims even realize something is wrong.

How Customers Can Protect Themselves

You can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of check fraud by following these best practices:

  • Use a permanent gel pen when writing checks to make alterations more difficult.
  • Avoid leaving blank spaces on checks.
  • Never include personal details such as Social Security numbers, birthdates, or other sensitive information on checks.
  • Monitor your accounts through online banking and review cleared checks for accuracy.
  • Consider using online bill pay for faster, more secure transactions.
  • Mail checks safely. Don’t leave outgoing checks in your home mailbox overnight—drop them off directly at your local post office.

STOP AND THINK: Red Flags on a Check

When reviewing a check, look closely for signs of tampering or forgery:

  • Does the paper quality feel flimsy or unusual?
  • Is there a perforated edge missing where one should be?
  • Are there smudges, erasures, or mismatched ink colors?
  • Does the check contain standard security features?
  • Is the MICR ink (numbers on the bottom) faded or dull?
  • Do the written and numerical amounts match?
  • Has the payee’s name or amount been altered?
  • Does the routing number match the bank listed on the check?
  • Do the check numbers (upper corner vs. bottom) match?
  • Is the check post-dated, stale-dated, or from an unusual location?
  • Is the person presenting the check creating urgency or making demands?

Stay One Step Ahead

By taking time to STOP AND THINK, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to check fraud. Regular monitoring, safe mailing practices, and awareness of red flags are powerful tools in protecting your finances.

At Fidelity Bank, we remain committed to protecting our customers and providing the education needed to safeguard your money.

Fraud tactics are evolving. Learn how criminals exploit mobile banking in our article on Mobile Deposit Check Fraud

 

More in our STOP AND THINK Fraud Awareness Series

Learn how to spot scams, protect your finances, and stay one step ahead of fraudsters:

Stay alert, stay informed — and always STOP AND THINK.