Are others allowed to cash in my Financial Aid Check without my consent or permission?

...I'm sure most banks or any other place that cash checks requires a valid ID that matches the information with whom the check is entitled to, but I just want to make sure. Because I've been waiting for my Financial Aid Check and when I went to check our mailbox, it seems like it's been broken into, because it was slightly open and nothing was in there and it's been a week since we checked the mail. I hope it's not stolen, but if that's the case I want to cancel the check as soon as possible. It's my fault, I should have signed up for Direct Deposit, but I was planning on doing that right after I open a bank account with my Financial Aid money. =( If anyone can help me answer this question, please feel free. Thank you in advance.

You didn't indicate in your question who it is that is disbursing funds to you - whether it's a Stafford lender or a private lender or maybe you're waiting for an "overage" refund from your school. Whoever you're expecting funds from, the first thing you should do is contact that agency or lender and ask if your check has already been mailed (and when).

Can a financial aid check be fraudulently cashed? Sure, the same as any other check can be.

Is it supposed to happen? Obviously not - the banking system is supposedly designed to prevent it. No one should cash a check without requiring positive ID from the presenter. But we know that in real life, it doesn't always work out that way. Criminals in the check fraud business know exactly where to go to get their bad checks cashed without any questions asked.

So.....track back and see if the check has been sent. If it has, you'll need to get the check canceled, and you'll need to contact your local post office about mail theft. That's a serious crime. I'm also guessing that since you say your box was "broken into", that you live in an apartment complex or some other type of development. Make sure your management company is aware of this problem, too.

Good luck!