New scam targeting Decorah residents is a variation on an old scam

There used to be a scam that went by the name of "Secret Shopper."  Authorities say that scam has now returned under a new name--but using essentially the same con.

A Decorah resident tells decorahnews.com they received a cashier's check for $2,400 in the mail, along with a letter asking them to buy four $500 gift certificates from Walmart, then report on how the store workers treated you.  After sending them the four $500 gift certificates, the remaining $400 was your pay for doing the work.

Of course, the cashier's check is counterfeit--even though the bank name on the check is real.  That leaves you financially responsible for the money you spent on the gift cards.

Authorities remind the public that if something sounds too good to be true--it is!