The below narrative was from a recent police report. There are many variations of this common scam. The FBI has a good website that posts simlar scams. http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm

You should always be suspicous of solicitation to online posts or unsolicited mail asking you cash a check and then wire money back.

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VICTIM STATES ON 12/18/09 HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM READER'S DIGEST THAT CONTAINED A CHECK FOR $3,723. VICTIM STATES THAT THE ABOVE LISTED SUSPECT CALLED HIM STATING HE WAS FROM READER'S DIGEST AND TOLD HIM TO DEPOSIT THE CHECK INTO HIS ACCOUNT AND THEN SEND $2,989.10 THROUGH WESTERN UNION TO XXXXXX. VICTIM STATES THAT HE DEPOSITED THE CHECK INTO HIS XXXXX ACCOUNT AND SENT THE MONEY TO XXXXX BY WESTERN UNION LIKE SUSPECT REQUESTED. VICTIM STATES ON 12/21/09 HE RECEIVED ANOTHER CALL FROM SUSPECT ASKING FOR MONEY TO BE SENT THROUGH WESTERN UNION TO A MALE NAMED XXXXX IN NEW YORK SO THAT THEY COULD PROCESS HIS PRIZE MONEY CLAIM FROM READER'S DIGEST. VICTIM STATES THAT HE BELIEVED HE WAS BEING SCAMMED AND CONTACTED WESTERN UNION'S FRAUD DEPARTMENT) AND PUT IN A FRAUD CLAIM. ADVISED PERSON(S) IN NEW YORK PICKED UP THE $2,989.10 HE SENT.