Federal Trade Commission Issues Scam Warning Involving Writing Checks for More Money Than You Have
By Space Coast Daily // August 15, 2025
could leave you on the hook for paying back all the money, legal trouble for bank fraud
(FTC) — While scrolling through social media, you might come across a video or post discussing a supposed opportunity to make money using checks. The Federal Trade Commission has issued a scam warning: that advice could get you in trouble.
The supposed hack involves writing a check for more money than you have, depositing it into a different account of yours, and then withdrawing the money before the (bad) check is fully processed.
What the video or post might not tell you is that it could leave you on the hook for paying back all the money, kicked out of your bank, and in serious legal trouble for bank fraud.
Before you jump on board a viral trend:
● Do some research. Search for trends related to terms like scam or fraud to see what others are saying about it. Talk to friends and family to see what they think.
● Think about the source. What do you know about the person or account that makes them trustworthy?
● Compare advice from a variety of well-known sources. Don’t just trust what one person or account says.
Learn more at ftc.gov/fakechecks.
The FTC works to stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams, and to help consumers like you recognize and recover from them. Sign up for email updates at ftc.gov/subscribe.
Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices to the FTC. Watch a video, How to Report Fraud to learn more. Your report goes into the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database, which is available to federal, state, and local law enforcement across the country.
