You have probably seen posed photos of businessmen and charities exchanging large cheques in photographs for years, the large cheques are of course just props, unless you are imagining a comedy sketch where someone walks into a bank and tries to lodge one! The actual transfer of funds if made later with a normal sized cheque, or by some other method.
Have you ever looked at one of these large cheques in detail? No, ok lets have a look. This is a file photo, I’ve removed the name of the payee, because we are just looking at the preprinted elements.
It looks ok but some elements are missing.
Here are the missing elements shown in red
Technically speaking are these cheques illegal? Well the CRIMINAL JUSTICE (THEFT AND FRAUD OFFENCES) ACT, 2001
29(2) A person who, without lawful authority or excuse, has an instrument which is, and which he or she knows or believes to be, a false instrument in his or her custody or under his or her control is guilty of an offence.
Clearly the instrument is not false as it differs so much from an authentic instrument, and also even if it was considered false then it would still not be illegel as it was provided by the bank (lawful authority) and is used for presentation purposes only (excuse). Yawn.
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