The Duluth Police Department has issued a warning about a new 'secret shopper' scam hitting the area.
According to a post on their Facebook page, they have had their "share of reports regarding this" and have issued several reminders about this type of scam.
The United States Postal Service first learned of the new scam. Here's how it works: victims receive a check for thousands of dollars in the mail along with an accompanying letter saying you should cash it in. It then asks you wire money back to whichever company is listed on the letter while keeping part of it for yourself and then using the rest to shop somewhere else.
If you try to deposit the check, you'll get a notice that it bounced and the victim is left with the money they wired.
Police warn everyone to be vigilant and "wary of any job that requires payment before any wages are earned."
Postal inspectors advise everyone to take extreme caution if you receive a check and letter in the mail, do not respond and report the scam online here or at 1-877-876-2455.