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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 USA guide

Short answer

Contact your bank or credit union immediately through a trusted number and report the check as forged and unauthorized. Ask it to secure the account, open a claim, and tell you how to provide any required written statement or affidavit.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait for another statement before reporting the check.
  • Do not use a phone number or link from an unexpected message claiming to be from the bank.
  • Do not assume that a 60-day notice period applies to a paper check.
  • Do not keep using affected check stock before asking the bank whether it is compromised.
  • Do not confront or warn anyone you suspect.
  • Do not sign an affidavit containing details you cannot confirm.
  • Do not alter check images, statements, messages, or other records.
  • Do not assume that reporting the incident to the police replaces notifying the bank.

What to do now

  1. Contact the bank or credit union using its official app, website, account statement, or the number on the back of your card. Say clearly that you did not sign or authorize the check.
  2. Provide the check number, amount, payment date, payee, and any differences you see in the signature, payee, or amount. Report any other checks you already recognize as unauthorized.
  3. Ask the bank to open a fraud claim and give you a claim or reference number. Ask for written confirmation and the deadline and method for submitting any affidavit or other documents.
  4. Ask whether the item was processed as a paper check or converted into an electronic transfer, because the protections and dispute process may differ.
  5. Ask what must be done to prevent more forged checks. This may include blocking unused check numbers, restricting or closing the account, opening a replacement account, or replacing the checkbook.
  6. Ask how legitimate pending checks, deposits, automatic payments, and direct deposits will be handled if the account is restricted or replaced.
  7. Save the statement and clear copies of the front and back of the check. Keep the checkbook, unused checks, envelopes, messages, and notices connected with the incident.
  8. Review recent statements and check images for unfamiliar check numbers, payees, signatures, amounts, or alterations. Report each additional unauthorized item promptly.
  9. Review the deposit account agreement for its notice and dispute requirements. Follow the bank’s written instructions without delaying the initial report.
  10. Change your online banking password from a trusted device if account access may be compromised. Secure the linked email account and enable multi-factor authentication where available.
  11. Ask whether the bank requires a police report. If you make one, keep the report number, but do not delay the bank claim while arranging it.
  12. If the bank does not resolve the issue, use its formal complaint process and keep copies of every response. You can also complain to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or find the appropriate bank regulator through USA.gov.

What can wait

You do not need to identify or confront the person responsible, decide whether to hire a lawyer, or determine who must ultimately bear the loss today. A credit freeze and wider identity-theft steps can wait unless checks, identification, account credentials, or other personal information may also have been stolen or misused.

Important reassurance

The fact that the check cleared does not prevent you from reporting it as unauthorized. The bank may investigate before deciding whether to reimburse you, so prompt notice and clear records matter.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps after discovering a forged or unauthorized check paid from your account. Repeated forgeries, business accounts, forged endorsements, electronic check conversions, disputed facts, or a denied claim may require help from the appropriate regulator or an attorney.

Important note

This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Paper-check disputes generally depend on state law, the deposit account agreement, and the facts of the case. Notice periods can vary and may be short, while checks processed as electronic transfers may have additional federal protections.

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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