A scammer sent Charles Gouge a check for almost $2,000 that looked real, complete with Walmart's logo, watermarks, a perforated edge and routing and account numbers.
There were some red flags, though, on the check. It said Wachovia, a bank that ceased to exist eight years ago.
The check came with a convoluted letter, saying Gouge got the job to be a secret shopper for Walmart.
The letter told him to go to a certain website and create an account, which appeared to be a scam phishing for personal information.
Walmart told WSOC reporter Jason Stoogenke it never hires secret shoppers.
Not to mention the fact that Gouge wasn't looking for a job.
"I don't remember signing up for anything or doing anything," he said.
Gouge didn't pursue it, but is worried others will.
"Nobody likes to pass up on a check that's sent in the mail to you," Gouge said.
Scammers try variations of this con all the time.
Cox Media Group