They always look like the real deal and come with strings attached. Deposit the check or money order and send the difference to an overseas scammer. If you do, it will end up costing you money once your bank realizes the money isn’t real.

Ashley Hamilton didn't lose any money, she nearly lost her freedom.

"I was cuffed before I got in the car,” said Ashley.

In July of 2005, when she was 18 years old and pregnant Hamilton was arrested for trying to deposit a fraudulent check.

"I was just scared because I'd never been arrested or taken to jail before or anything like that," said Ashley.

According to Hamilton, it all started when she was looking for a job. She'd posted her resume online and was "hired" by a woman overseas.

"She said she was a model and never had time, she needed someone to handle her payroll," Ashley said.

Hamilton was sent a money order for $2,500 that she was to deposit, keep 10 percent of, and then wire the difference to her so-called "boss" in London.

But when she tried, Ashley was arrested.

I asked her, “When you saw the police officers walking through the door, what went through your mind?"

"Ummm, kind of I knew it, you know? It was like, something that could have turned out for me turned out completely bad," said Ashley.

Two years later, Ashley was charged with forgery.

According to court documents, she told police she knew the check was bad. Something she denies.

Ashley said, "I never knew it was a fake check or anything like that, the only thing we questioned was the job."

"I was pretty upset because, you know, we had thought that this was legitimate and it ended up that she was in trouble, and she was the victim, but they were charging her as if she was the perpetrator."

Ashley's trial was to start at the Snohomish County courthouse earlier this year, but moments before she and her family left for court, Ashley received a phone call from her attorney. The charge had been dropped.

"I was so happy, really," said Hamilton.

But for more than two years, Ashley, a new mother, wondered if she would do jail time all because she tried to pass a bad check.

Her mother, Judie Hamilton, said police went after the wrong person in this case.

"This is a form of terrorism, you know? On these innocent people, people like Ashley that are inexperienced, they don't have the life experience that we have. And they should be going after those people," said Judie.

The FBI told KIRO 7 investigators do target such scammers, but it's difficult because they're so many of them. They're usually operating overseas and they don't use their real identities. In order to even begin an investigation, there have to be multiple, similar complaints filed.

The FBI said the best way to stop this prevalent crime is to not fall for the scam in the first place, which is exactly why Hamilton has agreed to tell her painful story.

I asked, "What would you say to anybody who is tempted to just cash that check?"

"I wouldn't do it, at any cost. I mean, it's going to cost you more in the end," replied Ashley.

The FBI and the Federal Trade Commission said if you suspect a check you've received is a fraud, file a complaint.

If agents notice a trend, there's a better chance that scammer will be investigated. If anyone who tries to cash a check they know is bad could be charged with a crime themselves.