Richmond police are warning residents to watch out for a scam they’re calling the “Mystery Shopper.”

While the scam has several variations, in general the target of the fraud is asked to go shopping at specific stores, supposedly on behalf of one of those stores’ retail competitor.

The Richmond Police Department said a resident received a hand-addressed letter this weekend asking the resident to be a shopper for a company.

The letter included a check for $4,000, and instructions on locations at which the resident should supposedly shop. But the letter also included instructions through which the resident was supposed to make a $2,500 wire transfer.

If the resident had fallen for the scam, chances are almost 100% that the $4,000 check would have bounced and the resident would have been out $2,500.

“Please be aware that most of these Mystery Shopper Companies require you to apply to do shopping for them and reimburse you after you have done the shopping, not before,” the Richmond Police Department said in a statement Monday. “If you receive such a letter, please let us know to help us determine if this is a local scam.”

The department can be contacted at 281-342-2849.