you have to pay the money back, because the money was stolen.  You cash the check, and no-one else, that makes you responsible.  If you send the cash in the mail to someone else, that makes you dumb.  I'm not going to send anyone  money for a contest they claim I won.  If I won any money, and I owe them a fee, than take it out of the winnings, and send me the rest.  Like they say, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse."  With that said, be careful what you read, and receive.  If it is too good to be true, it probably isn't true. Investigate, investigate, investigate.

take it to the post office.  It is mail fraud. The government will handle it  better.  no one in their right mind pays for money they won.  If I really won something, and there is a charge, I'll tell that person to take it out of the winnings, and send me the rest. Next time you get a letter, with a check, don't just check to see if the company is real.  They get ripped off too.  Call the company to see if they have a contest going on, and if not tell them what you received in the mail.  Do some investigation before cashing.  You will have to pay that money back if you cash it.  Noting is free in life.  If someone send you free money, you better know for sure, it is legal.

This phone number is on a check I received in the mail for $4500 to sign up for position as mystery shopper.  I checked out the bank on line - it is a real bank in Hampton, SC, FDIC supervised. Instructions indicated spending $100 on mystery shopper items, keeping $400 for services rendered and the balance to be sent through Money Gram and Western Union.  If fraud being purpetrated here how do we best assist the goverment, bank, whosoever to catch these people?

found number in on bottom of letter that said i won $37,000

how is it u have to pay the money back

they are a fraud company that is sending cashiers checks to people and wanting them to cash checks and return the money for taxes and they are full of crap. They take u for the money and then you have to find a way to pay the bank back. the cashiers checks are out of bowie texas legend bank.