Officials warn residents of fake check showing up in Bardstown mailboxes

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- Bardstown Police say residents are seeing unexpected checks in their mailboxes, but they say trying to cash them could cost you.

"It looks somewhat legitimate," said Captain Tom Roby, Bardstown Police Department.

Bardstown Police want to make residents aware that the whole thing is a scam.

"It's marked general electric credit union. It's made for $3,800. It says basically that you've won a lottery sweepstakes and it gives you a pin number. They word it where it sounds somewhat realistic," said Roby.

Roby told WDRB he could see how someone would think the check is real, because of who it says its from.

"There are a lot of either retired or current General Electric employees that may legitimately think this is a real check," he said.

Roby says it is important for residents to recognize that it's a scam, because if you deposit the check, you could face some major problems.

"Once it's deposited, these people with this scam can then access and drain your account," he said.

Pamela Ball with Town & Country Bank says she hasn't seen the check come through their system yet -- but she agrees, it could do some damage if it gets deposited.

"If you're really winning something, they're just going to send you the money. they're not going to ask you to send them money," said Ball.

"If it's too good to be true, it probably is. In my experience, it always is," added Roby.

Police are trying to figure out where the scam originated.

"Well the address is for Ontario, Canada, [but] the address for the bank is in Cincinnati, Ohio," he said.

If you receive the check, you're asked to call your local police.