Assume cashier's checks are phony

[BERIGAN]

From Clarkhoward.com

Assume cashier's checks are phony

Clark recently took a call on the show that continues to bother him. The caller trusted a buyer and took a cashier’s check from the man. Turns out that the check was not only a forgery, but it was also written out for $6,000 more than the amount asked. The polite buyer, who was really a con artist, asked if the seller would mind wiring him back the overage and everything would be square. Once the seller got a call from his bank, telling him that the check was a forgery, he was out his property plus $6,000. This is very scary. Even the FDIC has a warning at its Web site, telling banks to verify that cashier’s checks are for real. But the banks don’t feel they are responsible at all. One bank was recently quoted in the Boston Globe as saying the onus is on the consumer to determine whether the funds they are depositing is good. It’s a bunch of baloney. The truth is that if your account is improperly drafted and you dispute it, the bank has to pay you back. They act like they don’t have to, but they do. At the same time, there is no requirement that banks have to verify whether a check is phony. So, if you get a cashier’s check from someone, you must assume that it’s phony. Clark used to recommend that people take cashier’s checks, not personal checks. Today, if you’re selling something, take a personal check and not a cashier’s check. Banks need to come up with some security measures to prevent this from happening. But until then, you have to do what you can to protect yourself.

http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2004/09/30.html#cashiers

[Jim Alfredson]

Turns out that the check was not only a forgery, but it was also written out for $6,000 more than the amount asked. The polite buyer, who was really a con artist, asked if the seller would mind wiring him back the overage and everything would be square. Once the seller got a call from his bank, telling him that the check was a forgery, he was out his property plus $6,000.

This is an old, old scam. I'm surprised this guy fell for it.

[GA Russell]

Thanks for that, Berrigan. I wonder if it's also true for certified checks. Probably the same arguments hold. I suppose that credit card is the way to go.