What are mobile deposits?
Mobile Deposits are paper checks deposited by their recipient using a camera or scanner without the need to visit a physical credit union or bank branch location. It is a feature on most mobile banking apps that allows you to take a picture of your check and upload with just a few clicks, no matter where you are. All HFS accounts, except Business Accounts, are eligible to use Mobile Deposit as long as they are enrolled in Online Banking and have downloaded the Mobile App.
Mobile Deposits allow you to quickly and securely deposit your funds directly into your savings or checking account, all without ever having to step foot into a branch. Using the service is easy. Simply open the HFS App on your smartphone or tablet and follow the on-screen prompts.
There are numerous benefits to using mobile deposits. Including the ability to deposit checks 24/7, no charge to utilize the feature, and you can rest assured that your information is secure when depositing. No more waiting in long lines on your lunch break!
Mobile Deposits, as the name says, often involves a mobile device (such as a smartphone or tablet) with a camera and a compatible mobile application. This can also make it a prime opportunity for fraudsters to commit a range of check scams.
How does a mobile deposit scam work?
Mobile deposits are remarkably simple to make and are used by millions of American consumers on a daily basis. If you have never used your banking provider’s smartphone app to deposit a check previously, it is a safe, quick, and convenient way to make your life simpler.
However, like every aspect of your money and banking habits, you should be aware of ways that scammers may try to use mobile deposits for illegal personal gain. Fake check scams typically involve a scammer contacting their victim through email or social media posting as a potential employer, lender, or interested buyer on a marketplace site. The fraudster will often provide the victim an opportunity to earn money quickly by depositing a check to their account. The scammer will further request the victim’s bank account information and may even ask for online or mobile banking login credentials. Most commonly, these schemes involve temporary hire for work such as mystery shopping or evaluating a product.
The victim deposits the fake check using mobile deposit. While these payments are seemingly legitimate, they often come with an overpayment and a request to immediately return a certain amount via certified funds like a cashier’s check or money order, wire transfer, or purchase of gift cards. The check will later be returned as fraudulent and the victim ultimately takes the loss.
Types of Mobile Deposit Scams
Job/Income Scam: It starts with an advertisement for jobs that do not exist, like mystery shoppers or online data entry positions. These jobs usually involve the receipt of a check which is deposited to the victim’s account, at which time they are instructed to send a portion of the funds elsewhere via wire transfer or money order. Meanwhile, the check is fake, leaving the victim with the loss.
Catfishing (fake dating profile): This occurs when the scammer adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s trust and affection. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.
Loan Scam: Fraudulent online loan scams are similar to job scams. Advertisement for loans that are not legitimate can lead to a victim depositing a fraudulent check and being left with a loss.
Fake Contests: This occurs through a phone call, email, or letter saying you’ve won a sweepstakes, lottery, or cash prize. The victim is asked to pay a fee or tax to claim their prize and urged to send the money via wire transfer or purchase gift cards and give them the card numbers. Often, mobile deposit fraud tactics involve capturing account login information for trial deposits or “better odds” if the information is provided.
Remote Deposit Scams: This involves the scammer gaining access to a victim’s bank account and depositing fraudulent checks. They will then ask the victims to withdraw the funds and send it back through a third-party money transfer service.
How to Protect Yourself
The key thing to remember with these scams is – if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Especially if they involve requests for funds to be sent back or for bank account or personal information. It’s important to be vigilant and trust your instincts when considering whether or not to mobile deposit a check you have received. Never share your information or accept any form of payment when you are desperate or under pressure.
Don’t Give Out Private Information
Your personal and account information should be safeguarded. Legitimate employers, friends, and contests will never ask you for this type of information in exchange for payment. When you are asked to send information in exchange for payment, ask yourself why and if there are other options. If you are communicating with someone you’ve never met in person or a company with no online information who is asking for your information, it’s most likely a scam.
Monitor Your Account Activity
Don’t wait for your monthly statements to check your accounts. With mobile banking, it’s easy to check accounts at your convenience to validate that your expected payments have been processed and fraudulent transactions have not. The sooner you notice suspicious activity, the sooner something can be done to stop it.
Be Skeptical
Your instincts are often your greatest asset and shield against becoming a victim of fraud. You should regularly ask yourself whether the party you’re engaged with – whether an employer, a significant other, a friend, or a business affiliate – is behaving as expected and is asking you to take reasonable risks. If your conscience feels compromised, slow down and take time to reassess your options.
What to do if You Think You’ve Been Scammed
The information and steps shared above are great ways to ensure you’re informed and equipped to protect yourself against mobile deposit fraud. However, scammers are talented and convincing, and you may be exposed despite your best efforts.
If you think you may have become a victim of a mobile deposit scam, contact your local police department immediately and notify your financial institution as soon as possible. They can place additional safeguards on your account.
Remember, if the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you aren’t sure, trust your instincts and don’t proceed. If you have questions about protecting your identity and your accounts online, visit hfsfcu.org or call 808-930-1400.
Can this app be used fir personal check?
Aloha Rose! Mobile Deposit in the app can be used for personal checks.
I have a friend who has someone asking him to accept a personal check for mobile deposit but the check he is supposed to take the photo of, it isn’t an actual photo but rather a scanned copy. I haven’t had to provide any personal or financial information and I don’t think my banking app will accept it but I feel like I should keep my guard up. Is it possible for them to gain access to my account in such a manner?
Hi Dan! In cases like this, we would suggest always being cautious if a situation seems off. We’d recommend that you give your financial institution a call and ask for their advice on this situation.
A man on social media wanting to help me asked me to open a discover account and I did…..he asked for the log in too…..I gave it…. assuming that since I just opened it and have no funds then they can’t take anything….then I got an email saying that discover has received the scanned check and is being processed…..the thing is that he never asked for anything in returned…..what should I do
Aloha Michael, We would recommend that you contact Discover directly as soon as possible regarding your account. They should be able to help you shut down the account and prevent further fraudulent activity from taking place. Also, while you’re getting in touch with the company, you can also change your log in information so this person can no longer access the account.
Someone asked me to join Trading online. She introduce herself as an account manager. The offer is inticing so i joined,Now my profit reached to $18,000 but i cannot withdraw as they said without paying an upgrade fee to the online bank where my profit was being deposited. They ask for $3,000 to me. What should i do? $18,000 profit as thet said is a very big help when release to me.
Aloha Ian – Just from the details you have shared with us, this does sound like a scam and we would not recommend paying any more money to this person. When you feel uneasy about a situation like this one, trust your gut. If you need to talk this through with someone, we recommend contacting your financial institution for additional advice. Also, since it deals with trading, you can visit sec.gov and report this as suspected fraud.
I’m “in the process” of an attempted scam – I have the check that was emailed to me yesterday (for marketplace items), and there are multiple red flags that convince me it’s a scam. Is there any way the catch these people, or do I just stop engaging and let them move on to the next victim?
Hey Ev – We’re glad that you spotted the red flags right away! We would recommend that you stop engaging and report the person to the marketplace that you were selling your items through, if possible.
I think I’m in the process of a scam as well on marketplace. what were the red flags that your referring to? My guy doesn’t really have a profile, he’s out of the country and said he has to talk to his financial advisor and when the check clears, we will schedule the movers to come pick it up.
Aloha Jamey – one of the biggest red flags will be if they send you a check for more than the cost of the item they are purchasing, and ask you to send additional funds back to them. I would suggest bringing the check into your financial institution and have them take a look to see if they spot any identifiers of a possible fake check.
Hello. So it’s my first bank account so I’m sorry if this is dumb. I was in the process of being scammed but I think I did get scammed in the end. Anyways I got sent 2 checks from 2 days ago. (Still have them for evidence) This lady said it was for the orphanage. So I believed it was for a good cost. After hearing that, I cashed in the two checks. After that she tried getting be to send money to a random phone number saying it was for the orphanage and that’s when I found out it was a scam but I’m afraid it’s to late though. I’ve told my bank about it yesterday. Is there anything else I should do because I’m terrified that I’ve been caught in a scam.
Aloha Jay – it’s always smart to ask! What you’re explaining does sound like a scam, and those checks are most likely not valid. Any time you are sent funds via check and asked to send funds back, that’s a red flag. We would recommend that you seek advice from your financial institution and see what they recommend you do. Mahalo for reaching out to us!
I am in the process of being scammed.Recently got a new job ,signed offer letter and all looked good.Then started the training,it was too easy for the job for 2 days.Then on 3rd day received a check for fee thousand dollars and the reporting manager (always chatted over Skype,not even a call or email),told that this payment is for procurement of software and hardware needed for the job. And asked me to deposit it to my bank using mobile deposit and send a screenshot. Then the financial department will authorize it. I did sent a screenshot,after this I felt like I was being scammed.Before the scammer could do anything,I went to the bank which issued this cheque and cashed it out. Next day the person said ,now you have to make ups drafts or zelle to 4 different people (stating that these are the vendors).I said no and told them that I think you are a scammer.What should I do now?
Aloha! We would recommend that you cease contact with this reporting manager and seek advice from your financial institution. They will likely work with you to find out what information you may have shared with them, so they can recommend what your next steps should be to safeguard your accounts/information where necessary.
I have a friend that had 2 checks mobile deposited into her bank account and the checks are wrote out to her but definitely not her hand writing and they were actually from a family members account but the money never left her account that she’s aware of. The family member caught it and obviously questioned her. But my friend swears she did not take the family members checks and mobile deposit them into her account. She looks really guilty but this friend would never do that to her family. Is it possible for that to happen. The bank is in the process of getting the money back to the family member now. The bank has determined that her account was hacked. How can that happen without her actually having the checks in her possession?
Aloha Shelley – It is hard to determine what exactly has happened in this scenario, but we would recommend speaking with the bank to get more information and find out their opinion on how this may have happened. Your financial institution will always be the most reputable source to work with when something happens involving your account. Mahalo for commenting!
I received a message on Instagram saying “ what would you do if you receive $3000 into your account.” I felt like it’s a scam. But I wanted to know what they will reply. So I replied saying I would donate. So I immediately got a reply saying please share PayPal or any continent payment method will transfer the money. I replied saying I would donate anyways so you can straight away donate it than transferring it to my account. But I wanted to know what type of scam is this.? And posting here so ppl don’t get conned.
Aloha Rakhi – We are aware of scams that involve person to person payment services, such as PayPal. Scammers create emails pretending to be that company, asking you to click on a link to confirm receipt of a payment and provide login information, at which point they get access to your account. It sounds like this scam could be heading in that direction, but it’s hard to say with certainty. You were right to be cautious, and thank you for sharing this so others can be aware. Mahalo!
I may be in the process of a scam. Someone contacted me on social media platform asking to use a photo of mine to mine. She asked for permission and said I would get some money for my photo. She emailed me a $3000 check and I genuinely can’t tell if it’s fraudulent. I’m too scared to deposit it, but she keeps asking me for confirmation that I have deposited the check. I voiced my concerns and she got offended and said she has a well known reputation and sent me photos of other transactions. Am I being scammed or just paranoid?
Aloha Karlee – with what you have shared, it’s good to be cautious. One of the red flags to look out for is a sense of urgency, when the potential scammer is trying to rush you or hounding you for information. We would recommend bringing this scenario to your financial institution. Allow them to review the check and they can help you determine its legitimacy. Always trust your gut – if something doesn’t feel right it’s good to get another opinion from a reputable source.
I had a friend that lost her wallet and her phone and got mail from the bank saying there were checks deposited into her account and can’t release the money until checks are endorsed she always had her passwords saved on her phone and she’s freaking that she is going to get in trouble and she can’t get into her account because the bank put a hold on it and the fraud team is handling it like at first her account was in the negatives but now it’s not is it likely that the checks have returned please tell me something to tell her so she can calm down it’s been a week since this happened
Hi Nicole, in any situation involving fraud and your account it is always best to work directly with your financial institution. They should be able to help your friend put safeguards in place, such as updating her passwords to secure her online account, and instructing her on what to do regarding those fraudulent checks. They can also give her a status update on why her account balances have updated. This should help her get some peace of mind when they provide her with updates and explanations. We hope everything works out. Mahalo for reaching out!
@karlee what is the lady’s name? I think I’m being scammed too.
this is exactly what is happening to me rn, did you ever deposit it? I. so tempted to deposit mine but im feeling fishy about it
Aloha Curtis – if you are feeling uncertain about a check you’ve received, we recommend you trust your gut instinct and not deposit it. We would suggest that you take the check to your financial institution and get their opinion. In most times, if you were not expecting a check from a person or a company, there is a high probability it could be fraudulent. Mahalo for commenting!
Think I’m getting scammed. A girl contacted me on social media about using one of my photos as inspiration for a mural for her client. She said her client would write the 3,000 dollar check to me and I would get 500 out of it and then I have to send her the rest of it. I got the email and…..deposited it. After some thinking, I got nervous and contacted my bank and they said it’ll go through processing, and in this situation, to not use/send the money until everything is verified. Contacted me through insta with stfany2. Writing this out in case some others have also been hit up by this girl.
Thank you for sharing this situation Adrianna! It’s definitely a red flag when they send you more money than necessary, and ask you to send it back. It was smart to reach out to your financial institution for advice, that’s always the best place to go.
A friend of mine had a guy email him a check, he mobile deposited it and it cleared. The guy asked him to zelle just a small portion of the check amount to his church. Now the guy wants to email 3 more checks to him but the guy that emailed the 1st check hasn’t said he wants him to donate any of the next 3 checks. My friend said the check cleared and is available in his account. Could this be a scam? My friend asked him why he couldn’t just donate to his church and my friend was told because the guy that sent the check, wife seized all of his accounts or something like that. My friend is going to his bank tomorrow to talk to them. He says he never gave out any account or login info and his account info is not shown online either through the screenshots he sent
Aloha Linda – It’s hard to say for certain, but there are definitely some red flags here that are cause for concern. It’s a great idea for your friend to talk to his bank about this. Scammers can be very tricky, including sending fake emails that look like outside vendors, such as zelle, with links that could potentially steal information. His financial institution can help him determine what his next steps are to safeguard his account and his information.
Hi I think I’m being scammed or in the process at least. So I was contacted by a sugar momma and she wanted me to set up a bank account( I only had Cash app and paypal) I did then she asked what bank and she needed my email and full name as it would be written on the check. I told her I thought she was a scammer she assures me she is not, and even sends screenshots of previous payments to a past sugar baby and I told her I was uneasy about giving out my name and email. She said okay we can wait a while until my mobile check was set up, but I still feel like it’s a scam?
Send Help?
Aloha Kacey – Mahalo for commenting with this situation. While we can’t say with certainty whether it’s a scam or not, we always suggest to trust your gut instinct. If you feel uncomfortable giving out your information that is already a red flag. When you have doubts, we suggest erring on the side of caution and not moving forward in the situation. As always, please reach out to your financial institution for assistance. They are a great resource for you in a situation like this. Thank you!
About a week ago I received a check in the mail with my name on it. It Looked legit I sign up from time to time online for class action lawsuits and have had checks mailed to me for participating in the class action lawsuits. So when I received this check didn’t think much of it. Cause I’ve had checks mailed and they were good … So I endorsed the check to my friend to deposit for me since I didn’t have a real bank account aswell as an ID … It cleared was able to withdraw the funds. But now the bank returned the check and my friends account is overdrawn. He received a letter from the bank with a copy of the check that says fictional. Starting to fill fishy about it aswell as my friends account is now overdrawn what do I do to get it rite …. Willing to pay it back but don’t wanna deal with court system for something I unwillingly didn’t know about.
Aloha Eric – Mahalo for your comment. We would recommend working with your friend and his financial institution to find out what needs to be done to remedy this situation. If you ever receive a check that you weren’t expecting, you may want to seek the advice of a financial institution prior to depositing to see if the check is legitimate.
Hi I run a pressure wash company and had someone text me about a job, I went to the house and sent them a quote. They want to email me a check for 2500$ more than my quote so I can pay the ex owner of the house their remaining fees for buying the house. I feel like it’s a scam
Aloha Hayden – It is almost always a red flag when someone tries to send you more money than they owe, and asks you to send money somewhere else. We would recommend being cautious in a situation like this one. Always trust your gut instinct when something doesn’t seem right. You can always seek the advice of your financial institution as well, they are a great resource for you. Mahalo for reaching out!
Hi, I think i am in the process of being scammed. Two weeks ago I got a job (data entry), a strictly remote job. They told me to download Signal App for interview and hiring process. I did, and talked with the hiring manager, who explained everything about the job. (always over chat,not even a call or email). They emailed me $18500 to buy some software before starting the training for the job. I felt like this could be a scam so I went to my bank ask them questions about the check, and they said it looked correct. The following day by checking my account I’ve noticed my account was overdrawn by the same amount i deposited. I contacted the hiring manager to explain the overdrawn situation, He said he had no idea about what happened, that I would talk with the accountant and mailed me a physical check instead. The overdrawn were still there, so I contacted my bank and they said they would remove the fees. This morning, the hiring manager contacted to say he mailed out the physical check, it will arrive In 28-48 hours, then once I get the money I will have to send the money to some vendors. What should I do? Should I wait for the check to receive the money? Because after I did the deposit to my bank using mobile deposit, they asked me to send a screenshot, the money wasn’t yet available they asked me to use my money to buy a Apple gift card that they would reimburse me once the money available in my account.
Aloha Sasha – thank you for reaching out. From the information you have given, we think you are right to be concerned that this is a scam. Many of the red flags we talk about are mentioned in your scenario. We would recommend not continuing with purchasing the gift card and waiting for a reimbursement or waiting for payment by mail. If you do receive that physical check we recommend speaking to a supervisor/manager at your financial institution regarding this situation for their advice on what you should do next.
I am sure i was scammed by a freind about 3 weeks ago my ex who happens yo live in my house with me she yells me our freind wants yo know if i would mobile deposit a check he would write out to me and then withdraw the money from ATM, give the money to him and would pay me 50.00 well i did 3 times and then he closed his account and told the bank someone had stolen his banking info so the checks were all sent back for a total of 4000.00 and he will not pay back the money he owes me what can i do to get my money bank from this person i have kmown for years he wont answer his phone or contact me now he accussed me of vandelizing his car saying havnt i done enough to him i dont know anything about his car help me please
Aloha Grant – thank you for your comment regarding your situation. We are very sorry to hear that this has happened to you. We would recommend seeking legal advice in this particular situation for advice on how to proceed. Mahalo!
So I have recently gotten a DM from a guy saying he would like to use one of my instagram post as a “muse” for his artwork. He asked me for an email account he could send the check to, so I made a fake email just in case. He said his “client” was sending the check. I got the check and it’s a decent amount of money. How do I tell if it’s a scam or not? and What would happen if I did deposit it and
Aloha Haleigh – thank you for your comment. We’ve heard of this type of situation a few times before and it is usually associated with a scam. However, we do suggest you take the check to a manager at your financial institution (FI) and let them know about this situation and get their advice. If you deposit a check that is not legitimate, it could potentially result in you being responsible for the entire amount of that check along with fees needing to be paid back to the institution. Your FI will always be your best resource when you’re unsure. Mahalo!
Is it intelligent to sell your house to a cash home buyer?
Aloha Albertha – while selling a house to a cash buyer is not uncommon, we would suggest you seek the advice of a real estate professional to make sure all the proper steps are followed to protect you and the buyer. Mahalo for asking!
Hello everyone so I’m getting contacted on ig by a man named Hendrix he is claiming he wants to help me because I’m a single mom of three struggling and he he was a Entrepreneur and he like to help others in need he said I would need to send him a screenshot of a check deposit feature but it sounds like a scam to me because if your truly wanting to help someone than you could send the money other ways without giving personal info out has anyone got any messages from this guy?
Aloha Nicole – Thank you for your comment. We recommend you trust your gut in this situation and it seems that you already feel something is not right about the situation. You are correct to question why he would need you to send a screenshot of the check deposit feature. We also recommend reaching out to your financial institution when you are unsure and they can provide you with additional guidance. Mahalo!
I am on a sugar daddy website and a man and I have been talking for a couple days. He said he would start my allowance at 500$ and asked what institution i bank with. I told him Wells Fargo then asked if he could cashapp part of it to me. He said no, that it would be a mobile check. Is this a scam?
Aloha Sarah – We always tell people to trust their instinct. If something doesn’t feel right about the situation, then you are probably right. There are many mobile deposit scams going around these days, now that mobile deposit is a more common feature. We’d suggest being cautious and seeking advice from your financial institution before moving forward. Mahalo for asking!
I’m not sure if this is a scam or not. I was sent a check by someone, and it has their name and address, the bank name, the check number, the routing number, the account number, and his signature.
Aloha Taylor – When we get this question, one of the biggest things to consider is whether or not you were expecting a check from this person and what was the nature or reason for receiving this check. Many of those pieces of information can still be fraudulent even when present so it is hard to say whether this is a scam or not. We would recommend reaching out to your local financial institution, explain the situation, and ask for their advice. Mahalo for reaching out!
Hi I’m unsure if I’m being scammed. I got the group text about a job opportunity or all I had to do was fill out an application online. It didn’t ask for a lot of personal information just my address so they can mail me things. I got a check and a letter telling me what to do. It said I have to email a woman and she would explain the job. When I emailed her she said I was a mystery shopper and that I had to deposit the check. Now what I’m unsure is that she specifically stated that she wanted me to deposit the check in person at the bank. The weird thing was that she wanted me to do a cashier’s check for Red Cross in that besides the designated amount for my paycheck they wanted me to put the rest in gift cards for Amazon and it was about $1,500. Is this a scam?
Aloha Faith – thank you for reaching out. What you are describing does sound like a very common scam. The type of communications as well as their requests for the additional checks and gift cards is something we commonly see in scam situations. As we always say, if something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut instinct.
@Adrianna Did you ever found out if the cheque was legit??? I’m actually dealing with the same thing through a social media app. The cheque was emailed to me for mobile deposit and looks legit but I’ve been frauded before so I don’t want to risk it.
Someone on Twitter is offering to send a check image for me to deposit through mobile deposit. What could happen if I actually take a photo to deposit in my bank account?
Aloha Joseph – depositing a fraudulent check could result in potential losses to you, for both the amount of the check and any possible associated fees. We always say to trust your gut instinct. If the situation doesn’t feel right, we don’t recommend moving forward. Another great option is to check directly with your financial institution for their advice on how to proceed. Mahalo for asking!
I had someone offer me $500 to use my pictures in a painting, but the cheque their client sent me is for $1000 so I’m assuming they’re going to ask me to send some of that money back. I haven’t deposited the cheque yet as red flags are everywhere right now, I’m assuming this is a scam at this point.
Aloha! If you are feeling uneasy about the check and noticing red flags, we definitely would not recommend moving forward with depositing the check. What you have mentioned does already put up a few red flags based on what we tell most people to look out for. If you are still unsure, we recommend taking the check into your financial institution and asking for their assistance with finding out if it is fraudulent. Mahalo for reaching out!
I had someone text me and they wanted to have someone to talk to and I said okay they offering to give me money all they needed was my name and email and they sent me a check over email I scanned it and It went into account but the funds dint transfer over to my account and the person said once I get the money I need to send over 2,500 dollars because they sent me extra and then they will send me 2 payments per week 500 each. the payments not posted yet. what do I do should I contact my bank or should I wait for the payment to post and ignore the person and see if its legit or not.
Aloha Shayan – given the concerns you are mentioning, we would recommend contacting your financial institution for their advice. There are some red flags here that could potentially indicate fraud and it’s always better to err on the side of caution. Mahalo for reaching out!
I was supposed to receive an overseas beneficiary wire transfer and it never made it to my credit union account. It completely disappeared. What can I do to find out where my money went?
Aloha Bianca, we recommend that you check with the financial institution that sent the wire to see if you can get more information to find out what may have happened. You can also check with the person who was sending you the funds to have them inquire with the institution. Mahalo for reaching out!
Hi, someone contacted me over instagram asking to be my texting buddy and they would send me $500 twice weekly. They sent the check to me via email and I felt really iffy about it but decided to deposit it anyways but after reading all these comments, I realized that I may have been scammed. What could happen to me if it turned out I unknowingly deposited a scam check and what can I do to fix the problem?
Aloha Shelly – Please contact your financial institution as soon as possible and let them know about the situation. They should be able to help you with your next steps from there. If the check is fraudulent and is processed by your institution, you could be responsible for any fees if the check is sent back. Mahalo for reaching out!
Hello,
I got a data entry job offer from a company through text. They asked me to do an interview through an app called Wire, after which they requested that I fill direct deposit enrollment form, my social security all of which I provided. Then they sent a check of $ 2500 to be sent to a vendor to provide equipment for the job and asked me to send the money to a vendor via zelle . I sent $400 to the Zelle email they provided because my bank hadn’t credited the full amount( only $400). I went to the company website and I realized that something was off. I called my bank and reported and they’ve told me they’ll be monitoring my account. At this point what do I do.
Aloha Michael – Reporting the fraud to your financial institution was definitely the right first step. Also, since you mentioned providing your social security number, we recommend keeping an eye on your credit report to make sure no identity theft takes place. You can get one free credit report from each of the credit bureaus annually at annualcreditreport.com.
Someone designed a check using my business account number, bank info etc. They misspelled some words and left off the fractional bank number. It’s obviously a very bad attempt at designing a check. The signature is not mine or even my name. I’m the only signer on my account. They also typed the name of who the check should be paid to along with the amount $2,750. I never type out my checks. They also used a check number that actually cleared my account back in 2008. The back endorsement of the check says “For electronic deposit only at Chase” and there is no account number, just a scribe of a signature. My bookkeeper recently discovered this while doing end of year review of my transactions and now my bank says it’s my fault for not notifying them earlier. The check was dated for 05/16/2022 and cashed on 05/17/2022. Shouldn’t my bank have caught all the redflags before this check cleared my account? What recourse do I have?
Aloha Audrey – Both financial institutions and their customers have certain responsibilities when dealing with check fraud. You’re right that a bank is generally liable for paying a counterfeit check drawn on an account. However, a bank will also have a timeframe written into its agreement that requires their customers to notify them of any irregularities in a reasonable amount of time. Check law can be complicated with the outcome dependent on important details. A good first step may be to contact the bank’s management for an explanation of their policy. All good financial institutions care about doing their work correctly so your appeal should trigger a fresh review of your situation, and a fair opinion from their management.
My son’s “friend” has memorized my son’s social sec number, he has had the bank send checks to “their” P.O. Box (he added his name on my son’s box). Then he has fake-deposited the money, written the check, when the money from the check goes through he shows, on the computer screen, that he put money in his bank account. He may take a picture of the balance (to show the funds “are there”), then he uses the Debit Card to spend on it, and after a day of spending, he cancels the check. This has caused many bank accounts which he has set up in my son’s name to be closed. Can we arrest him for bank fraud? He has taken $60,000 with the “promise” of paying my son back double. In the mean time, he has taken him “underground” and we have had to get police to find them. This is one scam out of several he has pulled (they are in Atlanta, living on the streets). He has also scammed other people (my son has told me about) taking money and “promising double in return.” Can I get him arrested?
Aloha Martha – Unfortunately we are unable to give legal advice in a situation like this one. Since you’ve already been in contact with the police about your son, we recommend bringing this situation to them for their advice on how best to proceed and what your rights are. We wish you the best of luck!
I got a new job as an operations manager. They sent a check over email to print and deposit. I said I do not have it and they offered using someone else’s account and just send in receipts because the check is for mobile deposit only. I can’t take it into a branch to deposit. They haven’t asked for any money in return but I have never heard of mobile deposit only checks
Aloha Toni-thank you for reaching out. Based on the information you shared, we do notice some red flags that could be cause for concern. We would recommend that you reach out to your financial institution directly for assistance and advice in this situation.
I’m talking to someone who might be a potential sugar daddy, just gonna be completely blunt with it. He sent me the check of my earnings and I have to mobile deposit it into my app. But he didn’t ask for anything in return. He did send it via email. But if I deposit this check into my account can that give him access to my account?? Even if it’s just a photo of a check??? I can really use the money but I can’t afford to get scammed. Please help me!!!
Aloha Desire-thank you for reaching out to us. We always say to trust your gut instinct. If the situation doesn’t feel right, we would suggest using caution and seeking advice from your financial institution before moving forward.
Desire whitaker what ended up happening?
I had to checks emailed to me one that was 1,000 dollars and the other 500 dollars and then I got an message saying to cashapp 200 dollars but my mobile app uses Zelle and the message sent me a link and know 200 dollars was withdrawal from my account and it says the my current balance is 1,075 but my available balance is $75 and the $500 was deposited to my savings account and it say my current balance is $525 but my current is $25 and I’m terrified that I got scammed and someone stole my money
Aloha Melanie – There are some details here that raise some red flags. Please reach out to your financial institution to have them look into this and find out what your options are if you were scammed.
Fake job interview was going to email me a check to pay for materials needed. Work from home job scam, careful.
I have been receiving messages through instagram from supposed clients who want to buy my digital art, they offer me a sum of money and that the payment is through a check to deposit through my bank mobile app. I’m sure they’re not after the artwork, it looks suspicious. What would be the fraud that they could do? I have only been asked the name of whom the check will be endorsed to. I’m curious of how can they Hack my bank account or my phone, If I deposit a Check through my app. Of course I reported the account and blocked the users.
Aloha Lily – thank you for reaching out to us. Depositing a fraudulent check could result in potential losses to you, for both the amount of the check and any possible associated fees. It’s always best to be cautious, as you were. As for any potential risks to your bank account or phone, we recommend you speak directly to your financial institution for advice. Mahalo!
I’ve been talking to a man that has sent a check he only asked for my bank name and my first and last name he sent over the mobile deposits front and back but I’m still scared also he had gave me his sons cashapp to send me some of the money he’s sending which is believe able I’m not sure what to do
Aloha Alayah – thank you for reaching out to us. One of the red flags of a scam is when you are asked to send money back. Also, keep in mind that if the check is fraudulent it could result in potential losses to you for both the amount of the check and any possible associated fees. We recommend that if you are unsure, reach out directly to your financial institution for their advice. Mahalo!
I got my bank statement & it had 2 mobile deposits both for over $300 dollars & then they turned around & took the money back out which put me over 700 in the negative I went to the bank & ask them what it was I had never heard of mobile deposits & told them I didn’t know anything about it & they don’t want to give me my money back they said that they didn’t get any of my money well they didn’t want to listen to me at all I told the they did get my money because the deposits they made were fake & when they took it back out it was my money they took or I wouldn’t be over $700 in the negative. Can I get my money back?
Aloha Tammy – We would recommend that you ask to speak with a manager at your financial institution to look further into your situation. Every institution has their own policies on how situations like these are resolved. Mahalo for reaching out!
Someone said they don’t have cashapp or PayPal to pay me. They said they want to send a check and can do it mobile.
They told me they can send the pictures of the front and back but needs my Real name to write the check is this a scam?
Aloha Shelby – while it’s difficult to say for sure, you are right to be cautious. We recommend that you check with your financial institution to get their advice before taking any further action. Mahalo for asking!
I’ve been getting emails from someone offering positions at Ymca of USA. Sounds so legit. They said 500 per week and work 3 hours 3 days a week. I got the first message on my school email so i thought maybe it was a professor helping people find jobs. Stephanie Minor is her name.
But she emailed me as a Carl King. That’s where things got fishy. All they wanted was us to buy supplies for students and others in need for covid. So they will email a check, I have to print it out, and ONLY mobile deposit. This was a red flag. Then to end the congratulations on the hire email she asked for my bank institution to complete the process. I will not be responding.
Aloha Brittney – Great catch on those red flags! This definitely raises some alarms as a scam that could have resulted in a potential loss to you. Thank you for sharing this experience to make others aware.
How can scammers mobile deposit checks that you have already deposited and change date and amount on them? Does my company get charged again ?
Aloha Dona – policies regarding mobile deposit can vary from one financial institution to another, including how they may identify potentially fraudulent checks. We recommend you reach out to your financial institution to find out how a situation like this might be handled. Mahalo for asking!
I’m a videographer and someone on Instagram asked me for my services and said they would pay $300. They have no post and only a few followers (red flags). I told them how they could send me the money through cashapp but said their business account doesnt support third party apps”Anaheim Carriage Inn” (Looked it up and it’s hotels, multiple red flags). They said they would send a mobile check and all they needed was my name and email. Is there any type of scam they can complete with just that info alone? I’m curious of what they would send so I can recognize this scam in the future by seeing something similar
Aloha Sam – Great job recognizing some of these red flags early on! Scams can vary so it’s difficult to say exactly what they would send and/or ask of you. But recognizing red flags early on as you have can help make sure you do not proceed further and are not caught up in a potential scam. For more information on how certain pieces of information could affect your account, please reach out to your financial institution for guidance. Mahalo for asking!
Someone on social media claimed to be an artist and wanted to use one of my Instagram selfies as art inspiration in exchange of offering me payment from their “client”. I initially agreed to it since I have a friend out of state who was approached on social media and recently used as a muse for artwork that ended up in a museum. I thought it was a legit opportunity for me when it came up through a different “artist”. They said they would email an endorsed check with my name on it and instructed me to mobile deposit. That didn’t sound right to me. Checks can be cashed at check cashing places. Why are they demanding mobile deposits to my bank? They did ask for my name and email and I provided that after learning the eChecks can be accepted at banks. But they started asking for me to screenshot my mobile banking app to see what’s the deposit limit and I had second thoughts on why they were so adamant to get any info regarding my bank. I blocked them and started my research on these scams.
Aloha Adrianna-thank you for reaching out to us. Given the information you provided, there are quite a few red flags that could potentially indicate fraud. You did the right thing by doing your research. Great work!
I think someone tried something like that with us, but don’t think it went anywhere. Last week we got 2 $985 checks deposited randomly from some guy in California to my checking account with the checks made out to me with my faked signature on the back of both. They didn’t even sign both checks the same. The bank caught them as fake checks. I haven’t gotten any request for money or anythign like that, but we contacted the bank and are working with them. I would expect to have gotten a request for that money back or something, so odd.
Aloha J – We’re glad to hear that your bank was monitoring your account and caught these fraudulent checks! From the information you’ve mentioned, the scammer may have tried to remove funds from your account themselves if they hadn’t been stopped by your bank. We highly recommend changing your online banking login credentials, if you haven’t already. Your financial institution can help provide the appropriate steps to make sure your account is secure. Mahalo!
I have someone wanting to pay me to use a picture off instagram but I have to send the artist the remaining balance and keep my cut from a business in Florida that is permanently closed. Is this a scam they are sending 4 500.00 checks through email
Aloha Stacy – while we can’t say for certain, the information you have provided does raise red flags as a potential scam. Especially when they are sending you funds and expecting you to send them money back. We’d recommend reaching out to your financial institution to show them the checks and explain the situation. They should be able to offer their advice. Mahalo for reaching out!
So I was scammed and don’t know what to do now… I spoke with someone I thought was from lending point and was approved for 1000…. They told me they was depositing the money and I would get payment details emailed as soon as the deposit went through… Well here I am now I spent the money and now my bank says it was fraud what do I do now cause the bank wants the money back..
Aloha Alicia-Thank you for reaching out to us. We suggest you speak to your financial institution and let them know about the situation as soon as possible. They can help you with your next steps from there. Mahalo!
Hi, Someone has msged me saying theyd like to paint a picture of me and sell it for 2.5k to theyre client nd that id get a cut of 700. theyre saying theyll send me an email of the cheque to deposit myself nd theyve sent pictures of a transaction with my exact bank, nd theyll send me a picture of my painting but I cant tell if its legit or a scam and im afraid of it bouncing ,idk what i should do.
Aloha Kiara-Based on the information you shared, we noticed some red flags that could cause some concerns. We recommend that you reach out to your financial institution for assistance and advice in this situation. Mahalo!
Hi, I think i am in the process of being scammed. Last week I got a job offer for a (data entry), strictly remote job. They told me to download Signal App for interview and hiring process. I did, and talked with the hiring manager, who explained everything about the job.Over chat, and even made calls to me when I didn’t respond right away. I was researching the company. Seems Very legit, by the looks of it.They emailed me a check for mobile deposit in the amount of $7500, to buy some software before starting the training for the job. I have made the deposit, The funds will not be available until tomorrow and my bank is holding a portion for another few days.I have not done anything more, Could this be a scam?They haven’t asked me to do anything more yet. Should I reach out to bank and get ahead of it making sure funds clear before I do anything else?
Aloha Ms.D-Thank you for reaching out to us. Given the information you have provided, we suggest you contact your financial institution and let them know about the situation as soon as possible. Mahalo!
Hello, I had someone pay for my credit card, the payment went through. However when I tried to deposit a mobile check because the amount was $1,000. My bank said it was declined due to suspicion of fraud. I’ve never had a very large amount deposited besides tax returns. Should I be worried that the checks he wants me to deposit are for a scam even though the payment for my credit card went through?
Aloha Angel-while it’s difficult to say for sure, we recommend you check with your financial institution for their advice on your situation. Mahalo for asking!
I got asked to use a pic of me on instagram and they’re saying the will pay me 500 dollars and all they asked for was my firts and last name my email and what bank I use. I made a separate business email to give to these ppl and they said they would send me a check through email for me to cash myself is this legit?
Aloha-Thank you for reaching out. Scams can vary, so knowing exactly what they would send and/or ask of you is difficult. But recognizing some red flags early on, as you may have, can steer you away from getting caught up in a potential scam. We suggest you reach out to your financial institution for guidance. Mahalo!
Hey! Someone messaged me on Instagram and said theyd like to use my image in a mural and said their client is paying them $2,000 for the full piece but they would pay me $500 for my image. I said… kay cool. They said theyll email me a mobile deposit, asked for my full name and email. I gave them my name and a fake email I made. Theyre saying to just deposit it when I receive it in my email. Asked to see my banks deposit limit ($5,000) but said i can cover all my info. Thought that was weird. I’m getting scam vibes. What do you all think?
Aloha Tee – thank you for reaching out. We can’t be certain; based on the information you have provided does raise some red flags as a potential scam. We say to trust your gut instinct. If the situation doesn’t feel right, we don’t recommend moving forward. You can always check directly with your financial institution for their advice on these types of situations. Mahalo!
I need input please I am interviewing with a company Working Solutions everything is going great until this.
The company will provide the funds for the software’s by PDF check and you are to print it out with your printer and cut the edges of the check into shape back and front then you will endorse the back of the check and use your bank mobile app to deposit the check into your account by upload the imagine of the check and once the funds are available in your account and ready for use, you are to deduct $100.00 for yourself as your sign on bonus and the rest of the funds in your account will be for the purchase of your working software’s. I will be here to refer you to the vendor whom you will be making the purchase from. Do you understand this part?
I looked for all of the signs during the interview. Until the end where the scam comes in. I think this is forgery. I have never heard of printing a check to put into your bank account and I won’t do it only to be out of money. And the person who referred me is now saying they don’t work there and asking me not to get them on trouble . So big FLAGS
Aloha Lisa Ann – while we can’t say for sure, your information raises some red flags as a potential scam, especially when they provide a PDF check for a mobile deposit and request you purchase software from a vendor they choose. We recommend contacting your financial institution. They should be able to offer their advice in this situation. Mahalo!