Check, Please! Detecting Fraud Before It Costs You
- Jun 1
- 3 min read
Updated: 11 minutes ago
Last updated: August 2, 2026 | By: Kristin Parker and Derek Abbott
Key Summary
Check fraud detection works best when image analysis, transaction context, rapid escalation, and case management operate together. Mitek analyzes more than 20 attributes of each check image, then sends detected concerns into RiskScout for investigation and customer or member communication. The integrated workflow helps institutions move from potential fraud to documented resolution without switching between disconnected tools.
Check fraud is rising. Your tools may not be keeping up.
In this session, RiskScout and Mitek Systems show what innovative, integrated fraud detection looks like. Mitek analyzes 20+ attributes of every check image against a consortium of verified checks across financial institutions nationwide. When fraud is detected, it escalates directly to a case inside RiskScout, where your team can contact the customer or member and resolve the issue without leaving the platform.
We cover what's driving the surge in check fraud, where legacy tools are falling short, and give a live look at how the RiskScout and Mitek integration works end to end.
What You’ll Learn
How check fraud is evolving as a share of global fraud and what that means for your institution's risk exposure
Why disconnected tools create detection gaps and how an integrated solution closes them
A live walkthrough of the RiskScout and Mitek workflow from flagged check to resolved case
Why Check Fraud Still Demands Attention
Checks remain the payment method most often subjected to payments fraud. In the 2026 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey, 63% of respondents reported that their organizations experienced attempted or actual check fraud during 2024.
FinCEN separately reported more than $688 million in suspicious activity tied to mail theft-related check fraud during the six months following its 2023 alert. FinCEN's check fraud analysis reinforces why institutions need controls that connect detection with investigation and reporting.
RiskScout and Mitek bring those steps into one workflow. Mitek evaluates the check image against a consortium of verified checks. When it detects a concern, the item can move into a RiskScout case where the institution reviews activity, contacts the customer or member, collects supporting information, and records the resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of check fraud should institutions monitor?
Common types include altered checks, counterfeit checks, forged signatures, duplicate deposits, and checks stolen from the mail. Effective review combines the image with transaction history, account behavior, and customer or member information.
Can image analysis detect every fraudulent check?
No single control detects every fraudulent check. Image analysis is strongest when paired with transaction monitoring, account context, employee review, and a documented investigation process.
How does the RiskScout and Mitek integration work?
Mitek analyzes more than 20 attributes of a check image. Detected concerns can escalate into RiskScout for case review, customer or member communication, supporting-document collection, and resolution tracking. The partnership enables all of this to happen within RiskScout so bankers don’t need to leave the system or switch tabs during the investigation.
Is check fraud included in RiskScout's base fraud functionality?
RiskScout's broader fraud functionality supports alerts and case management across multiple payment and fraud types. Mitek's specialized check fraud detection is an integrated premium enhancement.
Meet the Presenters:
Kristin Parker, SVP of Customer Success
Kristin is a seasoned expert in BSA/AML and fraud prevention, with extensive experience building and implementing monitoring programs for higher-risk industries. She has contributed to significant updates in the FFIEC manual, provided practical, risk-based AML guidance at industry events, and played a key role in the development of RiskScout’s innovative, actionable BSA solutions. Recognized by her peers as PBC's 2024 Compliance Person of the Year, Kristin continues to champion efficient, technology-driven approaches that empower financial institutions to confidently manage regulatory requirements.
Derek Abbott, Senior Business Intelligence & Strategy Manager
Derek is the Senior Business Intelligence & Strategy Manager at Mitek, bringing years of experience in banking and a deep commitment to fighting fraud and supporting victims. He partners with fraud prevention teams across financial institutions of all sizes, developing advanced detection strategies to stay ahead of evolving threats. His frontline insights also help shape Mitek’s product innovations, ensuring cutting-edge solutions for fraud mitigation.
