What is Check Kiting?

Check kiting is a form of financial fraud that exploits the banking system's handling of checks, specifically the "float time" between a check's deposit in one bank and its clearance in another. 

Typically, the perpetrator of this fraud writes a check from an account at Bank A, but deposits it at Bank B.

What is Check Kiting?

Kiting is a type of financial fraud that involves writing a check from one bank account and depositing it into another account, with the intention of withdrawing the funds before the check clears. This practice can result in significant losses for banks and other financial institutions, as well as for individuals and businesses that are victimized by this type of fraud.

Check kiting is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and a damaged reputation. However, despite the risks involved, some individuals and businesses continue to engage in check kiting, often believing that they will be able to get away with the fraud.

To understand how check kiting works, consider the following scenario:

Suppose that John has two checking accounts: one at Bank A and another at Bank B. John writes a check for $1,000 from his Bank A account and deposits it into his Bank B account. He then withdraws $500 from his Bank B account before the check clears. John repeats this process several times, each time depositing a check from Bank A into Bank B and withdrawing funds before the check clears.

Eventually, the banks catch on to John's activity and realize that he is engaging in check kiting. They may freeze his accounts, investigate the fraud, and potentially press charges against him. In addition to facing criminal charges, John may also be required to pay back any funds that he fraudulently obtained.

Check kiting can be difficult to detect, as it involves manipulating the timing of bank transactions in order to make it appear as though there are sufficient funds in an account. However, banks and other financial institutions have developed sophisticated fraud detection systems that can help identify and prevent check kiting.

To avoid falling victim to check kiting, individuals and businesses should take several precautions, including:

• Monitoring bank accounts regularly to detect any suspicious activity
• Verifying the validity of any checks received before depositing them
• Being cautious of any transactions that appear too good to be true, as they may be part of a check kiting scheme
• Reporting any suspected instances of check kiting to the appropriate authorities

Types of Check Kiting

There exist different forms of check kiting that individuals and corporations may employ, including:

Circular Kiting - This type of kiting involves multiple accounts held at different banks, which may be owned by the same individual, different individuals, or a group of individuals. The account holder writes and deposits checks, often of increasing amounts, between accounts to create an illusion of funds.

The 'Endless Kite' - In this form of kiting, a check is printed with the name, logo, and address of Bank A, but with a routing number from Bank B. Bank A does not recognize the routing number and sends the check to Bank B, which, in turn, returns the check to Bank A since it does not recognize the other details. This cycle can continue endlessly, even after the check amount has been credited to the depositor's account.

Retail-Based Kiting - This type of kiting involves a third-party, such as a grocery store, unwittingly providing temporary funds to an account holder. For example, an individual may write a check for an amount higher than the purchase price at a grocery store to get cash back, knowing they do not have sufficient funds in their account. They may cover the funds with a paycheck or deposit to prevent the check from bouncing or use the cash to deposit in their account and continue writing checks to cover the first check.

Corporate Kiting - This form of kiting involves a large scheme, which may amount to millions of dollars, to secretly borrow money or earn interest. This primarily applies to corporations that do not have limits on how much of their deposits are credited immediately. Unscrupulous managers or owners take advantage of this system by depositing bad checks and spending the funds.

Strategies for Mitigating Check Kiting Fraud

To prevent and deter check kiting fraud, banks have implemented several measures aimed at reducing the incidence of this financial crime. One strategy involves shortening the time it takes for checks to clear, which makes it more difficult for perpetrators to take advantage of the "float time" between deposit and clearance.

Additionally, banks may charge fees for returned checks and place temporary holds on deposited funds to prevent the availability of funds before checks have been cleared. By implementing these measures, banks aim to make check kiting less likely to succeed and reduce its occurrence.

Detecting Check Kiting: Key Indicators to Look for

To detect check kiting and prevent losses, banks must closely monitor account activity for specific indicators that signal the presence of this fraudulent scheme.

Some of the key indicators of check kiting include a high volume of check deposits daily, many checks drawn on the same bank, a significant proportion of un-cleared funds, and deposits made through multiple bank branches to obscure the volume of transactions.

By monitoring these indicators closely, banks can detect and investigate suspicious activity promptly and take necessary actions to mitigate potential losses.

The Effectiveness of Check Kiting Schemes

Check kiting can be an effective way for individuals to engage in fraudulent activities, particularly when carried out over an extended period of time. By writing and depositing checks in a seemingly normal manner, the related account can appear legitimate and be subject to fewer bank-imposed restrictions. Kiting schemes can also involve multiple banks, with the individual constantly shifting check payments between various accounts to stay ahead of the funds-clearing mechanism.

However, when a kiting scheme is eventually uncovered, it can create significant problems for the involved banks. Depending on which checks were written from which accounts and the timing of payments, one bank may be left with the bulk of the losses. Therefore, it is essential for banks to remain vigilant and detect any suspicious activity to prevent the occurrence of check kiting schemes.

Related Articles

What is a Crypto Scam

Check to see whether it's too good to be true: Cryptocurrency scammers sometimes offer unrealistically huge returns on your initial investment.

---

What is a Rug Pull in Crypto?

Anyone can set up a liquidity pool, and even an IDO with basic due diligence checks still has a high level of risk.

---