If someone sends you a check and asks you to send part of it back, is it a scam?
Yes. When a buyer, "employer," or prize sends you a check for more than expected and asks you to return the difference, the check is fake and you'll owe the whole amount back.
What it is
A scammer sends you a check that looks real, then asks you to deposit it and wire or send back part of it — for taxes, fees, or an "accidental overpayment" — before the bank discovers the check is bad.
How to spot it
You're paid by check for more than you were owed.
You're asked to send some of the money back quickly.
The reason is a fee, tax, or "mistake" in your favor.
There's pressure to act before the check officially clears.
What to do
Don't spend or forward any of it. A deposited check can bounce days later, leaving you responsible — ask your credit union to confirm the funds have truly cleared first.
When in doubt, slow down. A real credit union, business, or agency is fine with you hanging up and calling back on a number you look up yourself.