Don't fall for fake checks

Would you cash a check that unexpectedly landed in your mailbox?

If it was from Grandma, sure. If it was that rebate for trying that new flavor of iced coffee, sure. But a check claiming you won the lottery? Or a check purporting to be part of a work-at-home deal? Those are scams.

Fake check scams are the top complaint registered by the National Consumers League's Fraud Center. The League, along with the Consumer Federation of America, launched an education campaign on Tuesday designed to teach consumers how to spot fake checks, which can look surprisingly legitimate and can cost consumers thousands of dollars.

The campaign consists of several items, including a tips sheet on spotting check fraud, a series of quizzes to test if you can spot the fraud, and two videos warning consumers of two common check scams: the lottery scam and the work at home scam.

In the work-at-home scam, individuals are "hired" to work as account managers who process payments or mystery shoppers who rate store experiences.

In the lottery scam, individuals are told they won a contest and have to pay taxes and fees upfront before getting the rest of their money.

Scammers usually require consumers to send money via wire transfer. That's a major red flag.

The consumer cashes the check and the check bounces. The bad actors are long gone with the victim's cash.

It's important to note that banks cash the check, even if it's fake. But when the bank determines the check was a fraud, most consumers find they're on the hook to repay the bank for that bad check.

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has a list of Top 5 Scams. Four out of five of those scams require consumers to send payment to someone you've never met.

Think twice before you part with your money.