DETROIT -- Each year hundreds of Local 4 viewers call Ruth to the Rescue wondering whether they should cash a check they’ve just received in the mail. The checks look very official and to someone down on their luck, they can look like the break they’ve been waiting for.

Hank Hubbard, President and CEO of Communicating Arts Credit Union, called Local 4 when one of those checks, using his credit union’s name, crossed his desk. Hubbard said scammers are cashing in on people hoping for a break so he wanted to get the word out.

"The letter says to call this number then the person on the phone tells them this is going to activate the check and they need to send a certain amount of money to this mail address,” said Hubbard.

But once you’ve deposited the check, you’re responsible for paying back the money when the check is rejected because it’s a fraud. Most of these checks use the name of a familiar law firm or financial institution and claim you’ve won some sort of sweepstakes or lotto, so those should be red flags.

Hubbard also said you should be skeptical anytime someone you don’t know sends you a check.

"If someone that you don’t know is sending you a check, red flags should go up,” said Hubbard.

If you receive one of these checks, you can check several Web sites to see if it’s a scam that’s already been reported.

www.fakechecks.org

www.ripoffreport.com