Cheques.

[Treefrog]

Provided you can spot counterfeit cash

True. Pen + UV light detects most though.

 

[stewc]

No.

Although if you request a copy of your cheque after it has been through clearing it is likely that the sortcode and account number of the account credited will be encoded on the reverse. In a case of fraud that's your starting point for identifying who might have ripped you off. Of course the police will get a lot further with enquiries than Joe Public.