In general, if an identity thief steals your checks or counterfeits checks from your existing bank account, you should close the account and open up a new one, request stop payments, and ask your bank to notify the check verification service with which it does business.  That way, retailers can be notified not to accept these checks.  While no federal law limits your losses if someone uses your checks with a forged signature, or uses another type of “paper” transaction such as a demand draft, state laws may protect you.  Most states hold the bank responsible for losses from such transactions. At the same time, most states require you to take reasonable care of your account.  For example, you may be held responsible for the forgery if you fail to notify the bank in a timely manner that a check was lost or stolen.  Contact your state banking or consumer protection agency for more information.

You can contact the six major check verification companies directly and ask to see if the identity thief has been passing checks in your name and to notify retailers to not accept checks in your name at the following services:

Chexsystems

7805 Hudson Road, Ste. 100

Woodbury, MN 55125

1-888-478-6536

Certegy Check Service

P.O. Box 30046

Tampa, FL 33630

1-800-337-5689

Global Payments

6215 West Howard Street

Niles, IL 60714

1-800-638-4600 ext. 555

SCAN

7805 Hudson Road, Ste. 100

Woodbury, MN 55125

1-800-262-7771

TeleCheck

P.O. Box 4451

Houston, TX 77210

1-800-710-9898