EL PASO, Texas -- Secret shopping seemed like a good way for Vincent Magni’s girlfriend to earn extra money during the holidays. The couple received a check in the mail and letter that confirmed that she was selected to be a secret shopper.

"Then it says, enclosed is a check for the amount of $4,600," Magni explained. "Boy she saw that check, she lit right up."

But Magni thought something was wrong. The letter came from Consumer Research Group based out of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., but the check came from Automatic Laundry Company in Denver, Colo.

The letter instructed his girlfriend to contact Consumer Research Group when they received the check, then deposit the funds in an existing account.

His girlfriend was supposed to keep $400 for expenses, spend small amounts at Burger King and Wal-Mart, then wire $2,200 back to Consumer Research Group and later wire another $1,800.

KFOX tried calling Consumer Research Group. A woman who identified herself as Deana Murphy hung up on KFOX after Miri Marshall identified herself as a reporter and started asking questions. When KFOX tried to call back, no one answered. Instead it went to the voice mail of David Hartman.

The Better Business Bureau reports that Consumer Research Group is not in good standing with the BBB.

Representatives at Automatic Laundry Company, where the check came from, said their company is not involved.

"It's a scam we have no part of it," said Automatic Laundry Company accounting manager Shirley Smith. “They just got a hold of one of our checks so it looks like it's a check from Automatic Laundry. It's just a scam."

Automatic Laundry said its bank, Wells Fargo's fraud unit is investigating.

The company's funds are also protected, so if Magni’s girlfriend would have deposited the check in her account, it would have bounced.

"That would have killed me,” Magni said. “Yeah, me owe the bank 4,600 bucks right now? I'd have to sell my truck or something crazy."

The Better Business Bureau said there's no reason for a company to send you a check and have you send the money back.

To find out more suggestions about suspicious checks in the mail click here.