What happens if you cash a check for the wrong amount?

You may be responsible for repaying the entire amount of the check. While bank policies and state laws vary, you may have to pay the bank the entire amount of the fraudulent check that you cashed or deposited into your account. You may have to pay overdraft fees.

How do I fix a wrong check?

Cross out the mistake and write the correction on the check. Write the correction above the mistake neatly. Avoid scribbling out the mistake—just one solid line will do. If it’s a misspelled name, write the misspelled name and the corrected name on the back of the check with your signature.

What happens if you deposit money into the wrong bank account?

So if you deposit $10,000 and your teller puts it in the wrong account, your financial institution will credit your account when either you notify someone of the mistake or it is discovered during an audit.

What should you never do with money from a check?

Never use money from a check to send gift cards, money orders, or wire money to strangers or someone you just met. Many scammers demand that you send money through money transfer services like Western Union or MoneyGram, or buy gift cards and send them the PIN numbers.

What happens if someone you don’t know sends you a check?

If someone you don’t know sends you a check and asks for money back, that’s a scam. Fake checks drive many types of scams — like those involving phony job and income opportunities, online classified ad sales, and others.

What happens when a bank finds out a check is bad?

When the bank finds out the check is bad, the bank tells you to repay the money you took. You can talk with people at the bank about the scam. Show them any letters or messages you got from the scammer. Explain that you are a victim of a scam. You can explain your finances and ask them to work with you on a solution.