Sec. 404. (a) If an impostor, by use of the mails or otherwise, induces the issuer of an instrument to issue the instrument to the impostor, or to a person acting in concert with the impostor, by impersonating the payee of the instrument or a person authorized to act for the payee, an endorsement of the instrument by any person in the name of the payee is effective as the endorsement of the payee in favor of a person who, in good faith, pays the instrument or takes it for value or for collection.
(b) If (i) a person whose intent determines to whom an instrument is payable (IC 26-1-3.1-110(a) or (b)) does not intend the person identified as payee to have any interest in the instrument, or (ii) the person identified as payee of an instrument is a fictitious person, the following rules apply until the instrument is negotiated by special endorsement:
(1) Any person in possession of the instrument is its holder.
(2) An endorsement by any person in the name of the payee stated in the instrument is effective as the endorsement of the payee in favor of a person who, in good faith, pays the instrument or takes it for value or for collection.
(c) Under subsection (a) or (b), an endorsement is made in the name of a payee if:
(1) it is made in a name substantially similar to that of the payee; or
(2) the instrument, whether or not endorsed, is deposited in a depositary bank to an account in a name substantially similar to that of the payee.
(d) With respect to an instrument to which subsection (a) or (b) applies, if a person paying the instrument or taking it for value or for collection fails to exercise ordinary care in paying or taking the instrument and that failure substantially contributes to loss resulting from payment of the instrument, the person bearing the loss may recover from the person failing to exercise ordinary care to the extent the person bearing the loss proves that the failure to exercise ordinary care substantially contributed to the loss.
As added by P.L.222-1993, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.248-1995, SEC.1.
Structure Indiana Code
Article 1. Uniform Commercial Code
Chapter 3.1. Negotiable Instruments
26-1-3.1-104. Negotiable Instrument
26-1-3.1-105. Issue of Instrument
26-1-3.1-106. Unconditional Promise or Order
26-1-3.1-107. Instrument Payable in Foreign Money
26-1-3.1-108. Payable on Demand or at Definite Time
26-1-3.1-109. Payable to Bearer or to Order
26-1-3.1-110. Identification of Person to Whom Instrument Is Payable
26-1-3.1-111. Place of Payment
26-1-3.1-113. Date of Instrument
26-1-3.1-114. Contradictory Terms of Instrument
26-1-3.1-115. Incomplete Instrument
26-1-3.1-116. Joint and Several Liability; Contribution
26-1-3.1-117. Other Agreements Affecting Instrument
26-1-3.1-118. Statute of Limitations
26-1-3.1-119. Notice of Right to Defend Action
26-1-3.1-202. Negotiation Subject to Rescission
26-1-3.1-203. Transfer of Instrument; Rights Acquired by Transfer
26-1-3.1-205. Special Endorsement; Blank Endorsement; Anomalous Endorsement
26-1-3.1-206. Restrictive Endorsement
26-1-3.1-301. Person Entitled to Enforce Instrument
26-1-3.1-302. Holder in Due Course
26-1-3.1-303. Value and Consideration
26-1-3.1-304. Overdue Instrument
26-1-3.1-305. Defenses and Claims in Recoupment
26-1-3.1-306. Claims to an Instrument
26-1-3.1-307. Notice of Breach of Fiduciary Duty
26-1-3.1-308. Proof of Signatures and Status as Holder in Due Course
26-1-3.1-309. Enforcement of Lost, Destroyed, or Stolen Instrument
26-1-3.1-310. Effect of Instrument on Obligation for Which Taken
26-1-3.1-311. Accord and Satisfaction by Use of Instrument
26-1-3.1-312. Lost Check; Assertion of Claim to Obligated Bank
26-1-3.1-402. Signature by Representative
26-1-3.1-403. Unauthorized Signature
26-1-3.1-404. Impostors; Fictitious Payees
26-1-3.1-405. Employer's Responsibility for Fraudulent Endorsement by Employee
26-1-3.1-406. Negligence Contributing to Forged Signature or Alteration of Instrument
26-1-3.1-408. Drawee Not Liable on Unaccepted Draft
26-1-3.1-409. Acceptance of Draft; Certified Check
26-1-3.1-410. Acceptance Varying Draft
26-1-3.1-411. Refusal to Pay Cashier's Checks, Teller's Checks, and Certified Checks
26-1-3.1-412. Obligation of Issuer of Note or Cashier's Check
26-1-3.1-413. Obligation of Acceptor
26-1-3.1-414. Obligation of Drawer
26-1-3.1-415. Obligation of Endorser
26-1-3.1-416. Transfer Warranties
26-1-3.1-417. Presentment Warranties
26-1-3.1-418. Payment or Acceptance by Mistake
26-1-3.1-419. Instruments Signed for Accommodation
26-1-3.1-420. Conversion of Instrument
26-1-3.1-502.5. Surcharge After Dishonor
26-1-3.1-503. Notice of Dishonor
26-1-3.1-504. Excused Presentment and Notice of Dishonor
26-1-3.1-505. Evidence of Dishonor
26-1-3.1-601. Discharge and Effect of Discharge
26-1-3.1-603. Tender of Payment
26-1-3.1-604. Discharge by Cancellation or Renunciation
26-1-3.1-605. Release or Extension of an Obligor's Obligation