Brick Police Warn Residents Of Fake Check Scam

There are few better surprises than getting unexpected money from a hefty check in the mail, but an Ocean County police department is warning residents that something that looks too good to be true probably is.

In a Facebook post, the Brick Township Police Department shared a photo of a check that a local resident received in the mail.

At first glance, it looks legit, and it's an impressive check too, written for $1,850.00.

But the Department says that a healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing, and the check is likely fake.

Here's what it looks like:

Brick isn't the first town to see this kind of thing recently, either.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has a warning on their website:

Simply put, you receive a check out of the blue, perhaps by registered mail or other delivery method that requires a signature. No instructions accompany the check—but FINRA suspects that once you deposit the check, you may further entangle yourself with the fraudster.

The FTC and USAToday also have pieces on the growing scam.

In a nutshell, if you're not expecting someone to send you money, it's probably a scam.

If you get a suspicious check in the mail, the FINRA article goes on to say that you should contact your local police and the U.S. Postal Inspectors Service.