cold check

A written order to a bank for a certain amount of funds that has been dishonored, either because such funds are not available or because the given checking account does not exist. Primarily heard in US. A lot of cold checks have been circulating in the area lately, claiming to be from the local university; in reality, they are scams trying to swindle people out of money. This better not be a cold check—I really need the money. I hear some creep has been passing through the state, depositing cold checks on Fridays and then skipping town before the banks are open on Monday.