well fargo bank fraudulent check cashed berkeley California

You bring up a good point.  Wells is one of my banks also and I did some legwork for you.  The stop payment order on a paper check is six months.  After that period, the check is good.  Working from that standpoint will get you nowhere because the check was a good check.  However, what it seems you are saying is the person to whom you made out that check, lost that check and after the stop order expired, somebody found it and cashed it. 

In order to do so, that person would have had to forge a signature or change the "pay to" name on the check.  Wells said you should call this number:  800-922-4684.  Now let me ask you some questions.  Did you see the check after it was cashed?  You can do that on their website.  How well do you know the person you wrote the check to?  Do you trust them?  At any rate, don't just drop this.  Call the number, be calm and talk with them. 

Wells Fargo claims that stop payments are valid only for six months. (A fact that the WF banker I dealt with initially did not even know.) This check was cashed a year after it was written.  It was stale at that date.  Bank of America cashed the check without a signature on the back and did not enquire as to whether the check was still valid.  Going in person to Wells Fargo has had absolutely no effect.  And we have been their customer for 41 years!  No customer loyalty whatsoever.

STOP PAYMENT orders do NOT take place immediately.  Did you read that information?  However, if the check was made out to somebody and the thief changed the name and/or forged the endorsement, you still may have grounds to get your money back.  GO IN PERSON to the branch office.  Forget emails or phone calls because GOING IN PERSON is alot more difficult for them to get rid of you.