News 12 at 6 O'Clock, March 2, 2010

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- Tracie Walker got quite a surprise when she got the mail.

"When I opened it, the check fell out. And I'm like, 'Wow.'"

It was a check worth almost $3,000 for evaluating Western Union. Walker had to fill out a survey, deposit the check, and transfer the money to a registered agent.

But Tracie and her fiance Carlos Williams had concerns -- like where the check came from.

"It says Maine, the check is from New Jersey, they want me to send money to London, and whoever my coordinator is, they're in Quebec," said Carlos.

The bank on the check is real. So is the company the check allegedly came from. But the bank confirmed to the Better Business Bureau it's a suspicious account number.

"When you receive a check in the mail telling you you can work and there's a check here for you, of course people are excited," said Gigi Turner of the BBB. "They want to believe it."

$265,000 in fake checks have been recovered by the Central Georgia BBB in the last four months. But if you do cash one of those fake checks, you'll be the one paying.

"Whatever funds you took out, that's your responsibility," said Turner. "You're accountable to that bank to make up the difference on that money, because it's not there."

Here are some things to remember if you get a suspicious check:

-- Never transfer money. There are real mystery shopping and research companies out there. But they will never ask you to pay them to work for them.
-- If you get a check that says you've won the lottery and you haven't entered? Guess what? It's fake.
-- Don't use phone numbers or websites the company has given you, even for banks. Look them up on your own and call them to verify the check directly.

To further verify if your check is real or fake, call the Better Business Bureau. You can also check with the FDIC.