# Scanning a Check **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 20, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370 "2021-12-20T16:52:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370/1 "2021-12-20T16:52:43Z")
I cannot recall if I have already scanned a check for deposit or not. Consulting my account activity, it does not appear like I did. However, if one scans a check twice, what happen? Does the system give you a pop-i warning “it looks like you ay have already deposited this check”, o what? Surely, the system has some fail-safe to guard against this from happening. (FYI: I am in the USA.) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370/2 "2021-12-20T16:56:48Z")
Today’s a Monday. For the straightest possible dope, call your bank right now and ask them. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370/3 "2021-12-20T17:04:22Z")
This is what’s known as “double presentment.” Banks regularly audit customer accounts for duplicate transactions and it will be removed when it is noticed. You should definitely call them and have someone check it out for you. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370/4 "2021-12-20T17:07:39Z")
I’m not sure if this is still the case, but when my former employer (a bank) started accepting scanned checks several years ago, each deposit had to be approved by a human before it was accepted. That was done mainly to verify the requested amount to be deposited, but it also guarded against double presentment, as noted by @DCnDC. But do call your bank and find out for certain. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370/5 "2021-12-20T17:11:19Z")
I once deposited a check, and typed in the wrong amount - like, $50.00, instead of $500.00. There was no way to edit or correct the amount, once I said “OK.” I called the bank in a panic, and they said - “Don’t worry, we check all deposits to confirm that what is written on the check matches what was typed in - if there is a error, we will fix it.” I checked my account later, and the deposit was for the correct amount. I don’t know if this is something that can be relied on, but at least the banks seem to do a basic audit of deposits. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370/6 "2021-12-20T17:13:11Z")
I’ve double-scanned checks before, and the app immediately told me it had already been deposited. When it happened, I had double-scanned immediately after the first scan (it didn’t appear that it “took” the first time) so that might make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370/7 "2021-12-20T17:14:53Z")
When I did mine last week and endorsed it, there was a check box on the back of the check I X’d that indicated it was a scanned deposit. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370/8 "2021-12-20T17:16:10Z")
Thanks all! Aside: In the 1990s, when my bank was trying out check scanning (after I deposited my paycheck with a human teller - before direct deposit) in its infancy, my paycheck went through the scanner and vanished without a trace. I never saw payment reflected in my bank account! (And, my employer was not helpful with checking on their end for my cancelled check.) The scanner failed, and the bank was relying on the scanner as proof of all transactions. Boy, was that a mess to resolve! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2021, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-a-check/956370/9 "2021-12-21T02:18:57Z")
Don’t forget the payor’s bank should catch it. It’s possible for someone to either e-deposit it to two accts or e-deposit it to one acct & then take it to the teller for the other acct, whether that’s two different accts at the same bank or two separate banks. When the same check # for the same dollar amount hits at whatever bank it was written on it should flag as suspicious.