Cheques as a Form of Payment — Stay Safe
- The buyer offers to pay by cheque — often for more than the asking price.
- They ask the seller to deposit the cheque, keep the difference, and forward the “extra” amount to a shipping company or third party.
- The cheque later turns out to be fake or bounces. The seller is out the extra money and often the original item as well.
Important: Never send money for shipping or forward any funds until a deposited cheque has fully cleared and the bank confirms the funds are genuine. Ask your bank how long this takes and how they verify the cheque.
We recommend safer options first
As a local community site, we strongly encourage in-person transactions and cash where possible. If carrying cash is impractical, consider secure digital alternatives such as Interac e‑transfer (or your country’s equivalent). Avoid wire transfer services (e.g., Western Union, MoneyGram) for person‑to‑person sales — they’re commonly abused by scammers.
If you must accept a cheque — what to check and do
- Ask why a cheque is necessary. If the buyer has a long excuse for not meeting in person, proceed with caution.
- Verify the buyer’s account: review their profile history, ratings, and age; request a phone number and speak with them.
- Consider safer alternatives (cash in person, Interac e‑transfer, certified cheque cashed at the issuing bank).
How to spot a suspicious cheque
- Check the date and completion: the cheque must be fully and properly filled out.
- No signs of alteration: don’t accept cheques that look tampered with.
- No post‑dated cheques: refuse cheques dated for a future day.
- No third‑party endorsements: don’t accept a cheque made out to someone else and signed over to you.
- Amount equals the sale price: be wary of cheques for more than the asking price.
- Business cheques: ask if it makes sense for the payer to use a company cheque—business cheques can be altered.
- Avoid counter cheques: don’t accept cheques with no preprinted bank/account information.
- Check security features: Canadian cheques and money orders typically include watermarks and intricate patterns—often noted on the back of the cheque.
Verification steps to reduce risk
- Ask the buyer to meet at their bank and purchase a certified cheque or bank draft in your presence, or go together to the buyer’s bank to verify the draft.
- Have your bank verify the funds before you use or forward any money. A cheque deposit may be released by your bank before it’s actually cleared by the issuing bank — ask specifically how long full clearance takes. Cheques can take a week or two (or longer) to clear.
- Do not ship the item or send money until your bank confirms the cheque has cleared with the issuing institution.
- Keep records: retain all messages, receipts, cheque images, and the buyer’s contact details.
Liability reminder
If a cheque you try to cash bounces, you are responsible for the funds. Because of this risk, err on the side of caution: verify with the bank and wait for full clearance before spending or forwarding money.
If you suspect fraud
- Contact your bank immediately.
- Report the incident to our customer service team and provide all communication and transaction details.
- Consider filing a police report, especially for large amounts or if you’ve already shipped an item.
Bottom line: prefer in-person cash or secure e‑transfers. If accepting cheques, verify identity and funds in person or via the bank, and wait until the cheque has truly cleared before handing over the item or sending any money. Better safe than sorry.
