Cheque Overpayment Refund Scam
A buyer sends a cheque for more than the price and asks you to return the difference. The cheque bounces after you send real money.
A buyer or tenant says they will pay by cheque and that the cheque amount is higher by mistake, or that you should keep the price and send back the rest by UPI. You deposit the cheque, see a provisional entry in your account, and send the difference. Later the cheque is returned as unpaid, and you are left without the goods and the money you sent.
How the scam works
The scammer finds you through an advert for an item, a rental, a vehicle or a service. They agree quickly and offer to pay by cheque, saying that they are travelling or that their company only pays by cheque. They send a photo or courier a cheque that looks real, with a date, signature and a bank name that you can see.
After you deposit it, the app may show a pending or provisional credit while the bank processes the cheque. The buyer then says that the amount is higher by mistake or that a delivery fee is included, and asks you to send the difference back quickly because they need it. They may pressure you to do so before the cheque has cleared.
Days later the cheque is returned unpaid, because the account is closed, the signature is forged or the funds are missing. By then you have sent the difference by UPI and perhaps handed over the goods. The scammer keeps both, and your account may be charged a return fee for the bounced cheque. The loss is yours alone.
An example of what you may see
Example only: 'Hello, I have couriered a cheque for Rs 85,000 for your bike, but by mistake my accountant wrote the amount as Rs 1,15,000. Please deposit it and send back the extra Rs 30,000 to me today by UPI. I need it for my travel. The vehicle will be collected by my driver tomorrow morning. Please do not delay.' The buyer calls three times in one hour and has a driver ready to collect the vehicle before you can ask the bank anything.
This example is written for illustration. Real messages change their wording, names and links all the time.
Red flags
- A buyer pays more than the price and wants the difference back.
- You are told to send money before the cheque clears.
- A pending credit in your app is treated as proof of payment.
- The buyer agrees to everything quickly and avoids meeting.
- A driver or agent will collect the goods straight away.
- The reason for the larger amount keeps changing.
What to do right now
- Wait until the cheque has fully cleared before sending anything.
- Ask your bank how long clearing takes and whether the credit is final.
- Do not hand over goods until funds are confirmed in your account.
- Do not return any extra amount.
- Keep the cheque, chat and courier details.
If you already paid or shared a code
- Call 1930 if you sent money and give the transaction details.
- Tell your bank on the number on your passbook and ask about the returned cheque.
- Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in with copies of the cheque and chat.
- Keep records of the goods and the courier or driver details.
National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930. Report online at cybercrime.gov.in. Do it fast: the sooner your bank is told, the better the chance that money can be held.
Where this scam shows up
Read how it looks on each channel:
How Safeavio helps
Safeavio's Money Shield checklist reminds you to verify before sending money to someone you do not know, and the scam check can review the buyer's chat and show money-demand and urgency signals. It cannot check a cheque or tell when your bank has cleared it, so ask your bank before returning anything. Ask your bank about clearing first. Wait for clearing.
Check it before you tap or pay
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app: paste a message or link, or scan a QR code, and get a plain verdict with the reasons. It helps you spot a scam; it does not promise to stop every one.
Download for AndroidWhat the app does
Google Play listing: coming soon. Today the signed APK is on safeavio.com/download. Android 7.0 or later.
Questions people ask
Is a pending cheque credit the same as cleared money?
No. A provisional entry can be reversed if the cheque is returned. Ask your bank when the funds are final, and do not send money or goods on the basis of a pending credit. Wait for confirmation.
Why would a buyer overpay by cheque?
Overpayment is a common trick. The difference you send is real money, but the cheque may be fake or bounce. A genuine buyer can wait for you to confirm clearing before any adjustment. Wait and verify first.
What if the cheque bounced after I sent the difference?
Call your bank and 1930 and report the matter on the cyber crime portal with the cheque, chat and payment proof. Do not send more money to recover the loss. Keep every record safe for the police and bank.