I just recently received a check, hand written, in the amount of approx. $250
Like many of us do at the beginning of the New Year, we tend to write 2008 rather than 2009. This was the case here.

So here are the options

1- Deposit the check as is, as most likely the bank will accept it anyway

2- Return the check and ask them to send you a new one

3- Simply change 2008 to 2009

4- Call the person, tell them of the error and then change the date.

Although I have seen cases in the last few years where checks have been cashed without endorsement, checks made out to the phone company and sent to the power company by mistake have been cashed I am told that simply changing the date is illegal and you can be sentence to death or worse.
What is your take on this?

Me personally, I would either just deposit it as at this time of the year this is quite common or change the date