How to prevent cheque fraud

Cheque fraud

Know more about the different types of cheque fraud you could encounter.

Forged cheques

Forged cheques are stolen legitimate cheques bearing a forged signature.

How to avoid forged cheques

Keep your cheque book, cancelled cheques and statements in a safe place
Check your cheque statements every month
Collect your new cheque book yourself
Only accept cheques from people you trust
Look out for alterations on the payee and amount written in words and figures
Look out for spelling errors on the drawer’s details and bank branch name
Make sure there are no stamps placed in areas that could hide alterations
Never accept typed cheques
Be wary of cheques issued in black felt-tipped pens
Don’t accept unsigned cheques
Report lost or stolen cheques immediately

Cheque washing 

Fraudsters use specific chemicals to ‘wash’ or clean details off legitimate cheques to replace with other information.

How to prevent cheque washing

Keep your cheque book, cancelled cheques and statements in a safe place
Check your cheque statements every month
Collect your new cheque book yourself
Don’t sign blank cheques
Complete beneficiary details in full
Use crossings accordingly
Write and sign clearly with a non-erasable ballpoint pen
Only accept cheques from people you trust
Look out for alterations on the payee and amount written in words and figures
Look out for spelling errors on the drawer’s details and bank branch name
Make sure there are no stamps placed in areas that could hide alterations
Never accept typed cheques
Be wary of cheques issued in black felt-tipped pens
Don’t accept unsigned cheques
Report lost or stolen cheques immediately

Altered cheques

Altered cheques are legitimate issued cheques that have been intercepted by fraudsters who change the original details on the cheque.

How to avoid altered cheques

Only accept cheques from people you trust
Look out for alterations on the payee and amount written in words and figures
Make sure there are no stamps placed in areas that could hide alterations
Never accept typed cheques
Be wary of cheques issued in black felt-tipped pens
Look out for spelling errors on the drawer’s details and bank branch name
Don’t accept unsigned cheques
Report lost or stolen cheques immediately
Be wary of cheques issued in black felt-tipped pens
Look out for spelling errors on the drawer’s details and bank branch name
Don’t accept unsigned cheques
Report lost or stolen cheques immediately

Counterfeit cheques

Counterfeit cheques are fake cheques printed on non-bank paper. Typically, the cheque’s account number doesn’t exist against the issued cheque.

How to avoid counterfeit cheques

Only accept cheques from people you trust
Look out for alterations on the payee and amount written in words and figures
Make sure there are no stamps placed in areas that could hide alterations
Never accept typed cheques
Be wary of cheques issued in black felt-tipped pens
Look out for spelling errors on the drawer’s details and bank branch name
Don’t accept unsigned cheques
Report lost or stolen cheques immediately