Scammer sends $4,000 check to police in Washington

(AP) — Not even the police are immune from those offers of free money from African countries that are really scams. Richland police could use another $4,000, but the department wasn't tempted by the cashier's check it received Friday in the mail from the country of Benin. Officer Erica Tungesvik said officers immediately recognized it as a bogus attempt to learn bank account information if the check were deposited.

An officer wrote up a report on the incident and Tungesvik said it serves as a reminder that if the police can be the target of such a scam, anyone can.

___

Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com