Video: How Fraudsters Use Gen AI to Alter Checks in Seconds
- Gen AI alters check amounts and names in seconds, with minimal prompts
- Generative tools scale fraud, rapidly creating large volumes of convincing counterfeit checks
- Multi-layered, AI-powered image and behavioral analysis best detects modern check fraud
Way back in 2023, we wrote a post about how generative AI will be a major tool for fraudster to create realistic counterfeit checks, noting that "It doesn't take too much imagination to see how fraudsters could use this readily available technology to quickly and efficiently create incredibly realistic checks."
In a recent LinkedIn Post, Uri Rivner, CEO and Co-Founder of Refine Intelligence, shares a shocking video showing just how easy it is for generative AI to assist fraudsters:
As seen in the video, Rivner uploads an image of a check and provides two simple prompts:
- Please adapt the amount to be 16500.00$ (both the number and written amount)
- Change the name to John H. Dillinger both on the main name entry and address line
Within seconds, the Gen AI creates a realistic image of the check with the details from the prompts. And, to make matters worse, Rivner was able to bypass security features by simply stating that the purpose was an internal check processing system test.
Generative AI vs. Photoshop
Prior to Gen AI, fraudsters were able to digitally alter checks by utilizing tools such as Photoshop. At the 2025 In-Person Check Fraud Roundtable, James Bi, OrboGraph's Marketing Manager and Check Fraud Detection Specialist, shared the following video to attendees to show how easy he was able to digitally alter a check.
When reviewing the final checks from Gen AI and Photoshop, you can see that both methods result in a realistic check. But, the main differences are speed and scalability. While still effective, Photoshop requires manual edits to the image and exporting. Conversely, a fraudster can add a prompt for Gen AI that creates dozens or even hundreds of checks in seconds.
Detecting Fraudulent Checks with AI
Fraudsters no longer need advanced technical skills or time-consuming design tools to produce convincing counterfeit items—generative AI has lowered the barrier to entry dramatically.
To combat this, it's recommended that financial institutions take a multi-layered technology approach that deploys multiple AI-powered systems trained specifically to detect components of check fraud. This includes image forensic AI to analyze the images of checks, and AI-powered transactional and behavioral analysis to detect anomalous activities.
This approach is the most effective strategy for tackling both On-Us and Deposit Fraud as each layer provides additional defense and enables banks to analyze and scrutinize each check several times -- ensuring that, if a fraudulent item passes by one layer, it will be flagged by a different technology in another layer.
With AI technology readily available to fraudsters, it is more important than ever for FIs to equip themselves with similar technologies to counter fraudsters.