Fake-check / overpayment scam
A fake-check or overpayment scam starts with a fraudulent check (or fake payment) sent to you, followed by a request to send part of the money back or pass it on to a third party. Your bank may show the funds as available within days, but once the check is exposed as counterfeit it bounces, leaving you liable for the full amount, including anything you already forwarded. Sellers, job seekers, landlords, and freelancers are the usual targets.
How we check this: Written and reviewed by the Hunch team; recognition signs reflect how the FTC/FBI describe this scam. · Last reviewed: 2026-08
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Example
A 'buyer' or 'new employer' sends a check for more than the agreed amount and asks you to refund the difference or forward it to a 'supplier' or 'shipper.' You deposit the check, send the extra money, and days later your bank reverses the deposit as a counterfeit.
How to recognize it
- You're paid by check for more than expected and asked to return the overage.
- You're pressured to send money back or forward it before the check has truly cleared.
- The story involves a remote buyer, a work-from-home job, or a rental you haven't met in person.
- You're told to use wire transfer, gift cards, or crypto to send the 'refund.'
How Hunch flags it
Hunch keys on signal categories that fit this scam: overpayment framing with urgency to remit funds quickly, requests to forward money through irreversible channels, and unverifiable remote counterparties.
FAQ
Why is depositing a stranger's check risky even if my bank shows the funds?
Banks often release funds before a check truly clears. If it's counterfeit, the deposit is reversed and you owe the money back, including anything you already sent onward.
Am I in trouble if I forwarded money from a fake check?
You may be out the funds and, in some cases, unknowingly acting as a money mule. Stop all transfers, contact your bank immediately, keep records, and report it to authorities.