On Saturday, I posted a diary asking advice about what to do when dealing with a weird internet scam. If you didn't read that, please do so now before moving on to the conclusion.
Yesterday, FedEX delivered the parcel as expected. When checking the tracking number online, I made a note that it was initially shipped from Miami, FL. When I recieved it, the sender's address was given as being from Nashua, NH.
I took the advice of many who commented and called my local FBI office yesterday but they didn't answer. I tried again this morning and again, there was nobody there to answer the phone. I then decided to call the office in Seattle thinking that HAD to be open, snow or not. A woman answered and I told her the situation and sure enough, it was a common scam and the FBI didn't want to do anything about it. She refused to get any of the details from me and basically told me I was wasting my time. She said the perpetrators were operating overseas and that the FBI has no jurisdiction. I asked her if they wanted the check, and she said it was "just a piece of paper."
After I hung up, I decided to open the envelope. Sure enough, there was a check. It was made out by a International Trading company from Quincy, MA from a bank in that town. Curious, I looked them up on Google. They have a website and from that, I was able to gleam a phone number. I called it and asked to speak to their Accounts Payable desk. I told the woman what happened and she said someone else had called yesterday to report a similar situation and that they had already contacted the bank and that their account had been put on hold.
So now I'm back where I started: unemployed and looking for work. The only difference is that I now have a check for $4000 made out to me.