Did an unexpected check turn up in your mailbox this month? Be cautious of any “free money” that shows up at your doorstep.

If there is a requirement to send a portion of the money back to the originator of the check through a wire transfer it is most likely a scam. Watch out for the amount printed on the check because scammers know that anything just under $5,000 won’t be held by the bank for a long period of time.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Contact local law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or 1-877-908-3360 to report a scam or for more information on scam and fraud prevention.