Hi,

Bank cheques are usually safe, but not absolutely. The usual scam is for the buyer to take delivery and make off, then ring their bank and say they were robbed by someone who must have seen them in the bank, so please stop the bank cheque. This risk can be minimised by the seller having a witness present, and ID being shown by both parties.

This from the Legal Service Commission of SA

"Bank chequesA 'bank cheque' is a cheque which is drawn by a bank on itself. They are traditionally used as a safe and secure form of payment, since it is highly unusual for a bank to dishonour its own cheque. There are several reasons why a bank might dishonour its own cheque including:

  • it has been reported lost or stolen
  • the cheque is a forgery or counterfeit
  • a court has ordered it not be paid [Lyritzis v WBC (1994) ATPR 41-360]


The only practical protection when offered a bank cheque is to ring the bank which appears to have issued the cheque and seek verification that the cheque has in fact been issued by the bank. This may be done by telephone, but notes of the time and other details of the conversation should be made. It is also important to get the name of the bank employee spoken to. This simple precaution should prevent any loss from a bad cheque. The person handing over the cheque should not object since it is in the interests of all parties that confidence be maintained. Indeed, if the person handing over the cheque protests about the procedure, it is even more important that it be carried through."