Go To Main Content Business Personal Investors Open An Account Online Banking Login Select Account Type Scams Fake Check Scam Fake checks drive many types of scams – like those involving phony prize wins, fake jobs, secret shoppers, online classified ad sales and others. In a fake check scam, a person you don’t know asks you to deposit a check – sometimes for several thousand dollars and usually for more than what you are owed – and wire some of the money back to that person. The scammers always have a good story to explain the overpayment – they’re stuck out of the country, they need you to cover taxes or fees, you need to buy supplies or something else. But by the time your bank discovers that you’ve deposited a bad check, the scammer already has the money you sent, and you’re stuck paying the rest of the check back to the bank. The Federal Trade Commission receives tens of thousands of reports each year about fake checks. Over the last three years, the number of complaints has steadily increased, and so have the dollars lost. If you are a victim of a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission: FTC.gov/complaints. Click the button below for more. HELPFUL INFOGRAPHICS ABOUT US About Investar Careers Investor Relations Board of Directors Disclaimers Privacy Policy Contact Us LOCATIONS Alabama Louisiana Texas BUSINESS Checking Savings, CDs & Money Market Business Loans Credit Cards Treasury Management Business Online Banking Other Services PERSONAL Checking Savings CDs & IRAs Mortgage Loans Personal Loans Online Banking Other Services LEARN Identity Theft Phishing Online Security Practices Corporate Security Security Awareness Scams GIVE US A CALL Customer Service: 866.604.2006 Online Banking: 855.306.8574 eAccount Opening: 855.981.7827 Consumer Loans: 855.567.2210 Fax: 225.757.7116 Telephone Banking: 877.845.7827 After Hours Lost/Stolen Debit Card: 800.500.1044 After Hours Lost/Stolen Credit Card: See Details ©2021 Investar Bank, National Association. All Rights Reserved. Connect With Us