No - further cheque FRAUD is now so easy (anyone with a computer and a printer) that even some Banks refuse to pay out 'across the counter' and will only let you pay them into your account (so, when the cheque turns out to be fake, the Bank can take the money back out of tyour account)

Not at all. But in practice cheques are accepted in lieu of money with a condition - subject to realisation.

Technically, a cheque is an order to pay money on your behalf, but not actually money.

They are quite different from currency, more of a promissory note only as good as the one who wrote it, unfortunately there are lots of counterfeit and underfuded checks floating around.

Not unless the bank has certified your check I forget technical name. A money order is or could be considered money.

Yes, if it is backed up by actual money in the bank.

Otherwise you will have commited a fraud.

No--they are promissory notes--the promise to pay money to someone.

only if you are able to cash them