Q: Can an online bank issue a cashier's check? How can I see if this cashiers check is legitimate or fake?
I feel like this is a money laundering scam. How can I verify this?
A:
Yes, an online bank can issue a cashier's check, but it's essential to ensure its legitimacy to avoid potential scams. To verify if a cashier's check is genuine, start by contacting the issuing bank directly using a phone number from their official website, not from the check itself. Provide them with the check number, amount, and issuing details to confirm its authenticity.
Look for any signs of tampering or irregularities on the check, such as mismatched fonts, missing security features, or poor-quality printing. Banks typically include watermarks, security threads, and other features to prevent counterfeiting. If you have any doubts about the check's legitimacy, it's safer to proceed with caution.
If you suspect a money laundering scam, report it to your local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They can guide you on the next steps to protect yourself and help prevent further fraudulent activities. Always be cautious when dealing with unexpected financial transactions, especially if they seem too good to be true.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.