I have NEVER entered any sweepstakes. Today I received a bank check for $4,500. I have NO idea where it came from OR why I received it. I called my local bank & was told it was a scam. How do I know this? How do I know if it is good or not? How could I be scammed by this check? Please, I need help with this check :confused:

Was there a request for a fee ? But no if you did not enter the contest you don't get a check. Tell us the name of the bank and what contest it was, we can check some of the scam.

Ways, if you deposit it, it will come up as a fake check but can take up to a couple months depending on where it is written on. Once deposited they will have your bank account number and routing number so they can then use automatic withdraws to take money out of your account.
Only safe way to deposit it, open account that you only put it in, let it set for several months unused. Do not deposit it in any bank that you have other accounts with.
If you do spend the money and the check comes back bad, you have to pay the bank back all of the money

And the other thing is, it may have some obligations buried in the fine print. So you may cash it, and then find out you are now bound to buy something/send them money for X many months, etc.

If you never filled out any paperwork or remember this sweepstakes you could call the bank that the check is drawn on and ask the bank about the company and the amount of the check and see if the check is good or not. You have all the information on the face of the check to do this with. The bank should at least have a city and state printed near the bank name. If there is a branch of that bank near you go there in person and produce the check and see what they say about it's authenticity. More than likely it's no good.