What is worthless check or check fraud?

Florida's worthless check offense covers obtaining goods, services, or money by issuing a check when the person knows there are insufficient funds or no account.

Knowledge is the element that matters. An honest overdraft isn't a crime. A check written in the genuine belief funds would clear isn't a crime. What the statute reaches is issuing a check knowing it won't be honored.

The degree depends on the amount, escalating to a felony above a threshold.

There's a notice-and-payment structure built into how these proceed. The payee typically sends a demand, and payment within the specified period frequently resolves the matter — which is why these cases often turn on whether the demand was properly sent and to what address.

Common defenses: no knowledge of insufficient funds, a bank error, a post-dated check accepted with knowledge of the timing, or a genuine dispute over the underlying transaction.