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uk Money & financial emergencies

What to do if…
your bank pays a forged cheque or check from your account

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Contact your bank immediately through its app, official website or a trusted telephone number. Say that you did not write, sign or authorise the cheque, and ask the bank to secure the account and investigate the debit.

Do not do these things

  • Do not use contact details from an unexpected message about the cheque.
  • Do not transfer money to a supposed safe account.
  • Do not disclose your PIN, password or one-time security codes.
  • Do not wait for another cheque to be paid before contacting the bank.
  • Do not throw away the cheque book, cheque stubs, statements or related correspondence.
  • Do not write on original documents or alter saved images of account records.
  • Do not confront anyone you suspect if doing so could put you at risk.
  • Do not pay a claims company to contact the bank at this stage.

What to do now

  1. Contact the bank’s fraud team using a trusted route. Give the cheque amount, payment date, cheque number and payee if these details are visible, and ask for a case reference.
  2. State clearly that you did not write, sign or authorise the cheque. Ask the bank to record the payment as disputed and explain its immediate investigation process.
  3. Tell the bank if your cheque book or any individual cheques are missing. Ask it to stop or flag the remaining cheque numbers and explain whether it needs to replace the cheque book or restrict the account.
  4. Check your cheque book and stubs. Make a separate list of missing leaves, unexplained gaps in cheque numbers and unused cheques still in your possession.
  5. Ask whether the bank can provide an image or copy of the paid cheque and its processing details. Check the signature, amount, payee, date and cheque number.
  6. Review recent account activity for other cheques, transfers, withdrawals or payment instructions you do not recognise. Report each disputed item to the bank.
  7. Save statements, screenshots, correspondence and photographs of the remaining cheque book. Record when you contacted the bank, who you spoke to and what was agreed.
  8. Tell the bank immediately if the debit leaves you unable to meet essential costs. Ask what temporary support it can consider while the dispute is investigated.
  9. In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, report the fraud to Report Fraud. In Scotland, report it to Police Scotland by calling 101. Call 999 if a crime is happening now or someone is in immediate danger.
  10. If the bank does not resolve the matter, ask it to treat your report as a formal complaint and to give you its response in writing.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now who forged the cheque, confront anyone, close every financial account or hire a solicitor or claims company. Contacting the Financial Ombudsman Service can usually wait until the bank sends its final response or has had eight weeks to consider the cheque complaint.

Important reassurance

A cheque bearing a forged signature is generally not a valid instruction from the account holder, and a bank may need to make good losses caused by paying it. The outcome depends on the evidence and circumstances, so reporting it without delay and keeping clear records are important.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate containment, reporting and record-keeping only. Later questions about reimbursement, liability, police action or a formal complaint may require help from the Financial Ombudsman Service, Citizens Advice or a qualified legal adviser.

Important note

This is general information, not legal or financial advice. The bank’s responsibility and the outcome of a complaint may depend on the account mandate, account terms, evidence and circumstances of the cheque.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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