Many fraudulent checks are visibly phony. By paying close attention to a check's appearance, you can often detect a possible bad check before accepting it as payment. When you see one or more of the following telltale signs, you may be looking at a phony check. Protect yourself against possible losses by requiring management approval of the check or asking for an alternative form of payment.
- No perforation on check edges.
- Apparently altered writing or erasures.
- Water spots or alterations of check's color or graphic background.
- Numbered under 500 (new account)
- Post-dated
- Glossy rather than dull finish of magnetic ink
- Signature does not match imprinted name and ID