fraudulent cashier's checks

Cashier’s Checks claim to be just as good as cash.  However, with the sophisticated technology of today, criminals have all the tools at their fingertips to create fake checks and steal your money.  You can avoid becoming a victim by understanding and following these tips...

• Be comfortable that the individual(s) or business that you are dealing with is legitimate and trustworthy.
• Do not accept third party checks.
• When selling items over the internet, ask that the cashier’s check be drawn on a bank local to you.
• Verify with the financial institution from which the check is drawn, that the check is legitimate.  Items to verify include the routing number, the account
  number and the amount the check is written for.  The name of the bank, which appears on the cashiers check, is not the responsible party for
  recovering the money should the check be counterfeit, you are.
• When verifying information, use a local or nationwide directory to obtain the phone number.  Do not use the phone number on the check itself.
• Exercise extreme caution if you receive a cashier’s check in excess of the sale amount and are then instructed to wire the remaining funds back to
  the buyer or third party.
• Funds from a cashier’s check may be made available quickly.  However, just because you can withdraw the funds, does not mean the check is valid.
  It may take several weeks for your financial institution to discover that the check is no good.
• Cashier’s checks are not as good as cash.  It does not make a difference whether you cash or deposit the check, it can be returned and you will be
  held liable.

Should you have any reason to suspect a cashier’s check in your possession, contact a Bank representative immediately.