Eli5, how do checks work. Especially now that we can deposit them via phone now. What stops us from creating (e.g., photoshooting) fake checks all day.

Question

Eli5, how do checks work. Especially now that we can deposit them via phone now. What stops us from creating (e.g., photoshooting) fake checks all day.

In: Economics

Answer 1

It is illegal. When you try to deposit a fake check in your account it might go through for a short time until the bank actually tries to transfer the money and it gets detected as a fraudulent transaction. Then the money gets taken back out of your account and the police come looking for you with some serious questions. Your photoshopped check is going to lack all the security features like microprinting and upon closer inspection will be obviously fake.

Then you go to jail for check fraud.