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Why is check fraud suddenly rampant? (www.bostonfed.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Suddenly? Nothing sudden about it been going around for years.

As for why it's because it's super easy and if someone gets one of your checks they have your full routing and account number on the bottom which can be easily used to make a fake one or initiate an ach or something. Since its old technology that for some reason banks refuse to update, you get a credit in your account within a few days of deposit while the actual account holder has time to notice they've been robbed or their bank has time to catch any obvious fake checks. In the meantime the fraudster is already free and clear with however many giftcards they got.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Suddenly? Nothing sudden about it been going around for years.

From the article:

[In 2022], banks issued about 680,000 reports of check fraud, nearly double what they reported in 2021. And one expert predicted total check fraud will hit $24 billion in losses this year, roughly twice what it was just five years ago.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Checks are still commonly used for businesses and people working predominantly blue-collar professions (at least in the US)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's interesting. In the UK most companies haven't accepted checks in about 15 years.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's because digital payment methods are almost completely owned by private entities here that charge fees for processing. Checks don't incur those costs, so people stick with them.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

...and no app to install, or links to maintain between accounts.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

No need for any special apps or 'links to maintain' whatever that means. You just need the person's Bank details.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I can only assume the cost of dealing with checks was greater (as well as far less convenient) than BACS transfers were over here.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Also people over the age of 60 love shopping with them for some reason, to the detriment of literally everyone else.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

We (76 and 60) shop with our plastic (credit, never debit). Next cash if it is hand-to-hand, or we can get a receipt. Otherwise check, but we don't carry a checkbook. I may do PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle, but only if I know you personally -- if you're dealing with my spouse, you'd better take a check or plastic or wait for me.

to the detriment of literally everyone else.

How so? It's an option. The other option may be "no sale." We grew up on these and we understand them. All the high-tech ways are ever-changing, and we're never sure where we stand with them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I feel like I stopped seeing this about 10 years ago now. I can't even remember the last time I saw someone write a check in a store

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Surprised that cheques are still a thing.

The banks here made old fashioned hold-outs like me give up our cheque books about 10 years ago.