[ikka]

Last November? When did the Nigerian scam start?

Don't most people know that the thing to do is to call the bank the check is drawn on and read them the numbers on the bottom? They will check it out for you (though you might have to fax the check to them).

[Swordmaker]

Don't most people know that the thing to do is to call the bank the check is drawn on and read them the numbers on the bottom? They will check it out for you (though you might have to fax the check to them).

Good idea... except for one little teeny problem. The scammers have thought of this too!

The crooks merely buy ONE legitimate Cashier's Check, make many counterfeit copies with the correct amounts and numbers for use in their scams. Calling the issuing bank with the info from the counterfeit check only confirms that a check with that number for that amount has been issued, not that THIS PARTICULAR check is legitimate.

This has been done with eBay computer sales where innocent sellers received cashier's checks for laptop computers, confirmed the checks with the issuing bank over the phone, deposited the funds and shipped the computer. Weeks later the fraudulent check is bounced back, the computer is long gone... and the criminals have ALSO cashed the legitimate cashier's check and are gone with the wind.

[general_re]

I've worked in banking long enough to know that anyone who takes the word of a CSR as to whether a check not drawn on that bank is valid or not is skating on very thin ice indeed. I've known plenty of tellers (unfortunately) who would be all too happy to accept a "check" written in yellow crayon on a cocktail napkin. And if you give me a half-hour in front of a computer with a decent scanner and laser printer, I'll produce forgeries that will sail past any teller in the country with ease.

Your advice is the best advice - call the bank that the check is drawn on. Don't rely on your bank to spot forgeries from some other bank - they can't, and you'll be very unhappy with the results, just as this lady above is...