Don't Deposit the Check

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- It turns out that official-looking letter and check that says you're a million dollar winner of Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes is fake.

The Better Business Bureau says scammers recently sent out the bogus mailings to consumers in at least 20 states.

The crooks tell recipients to cash the $5,000 check and wire most of it back to them at them inorder to get the rest of the winnings.

The BBB says do not deposit that check.

And, never send cash back to anyone who sends you a check up front because, in most cases, you'll never recover the money.