What do you think this is????

H had an enquiry in to design/construct a website - this is all he was told apart from that it would be 5 pages.

He had a contact email address only - no company name / telephone number or anything.

He was suspicious of it from the very start, but still quoted for it. He said that he would require 50% payment for the project before even starting it and the remainder upon completion and before the site went live. The cost he requested upfront was £380.

Yesterday he received a cheque for £3500.00 with just a scrap bit of paper saying - This is the cheque from xxxxxx xxxxxxx.

Obviously he hasn't and is not banking it. He emailed his contact again 3 times yesterday stating that he would not be banking it and could he contact him urgently to which he has had no response.

The cheque is a RBS cheque, so this morning H is currently holding for the fraud department of the RBS as he is very suspicious of it. My Dad who knows about this sort of stuff seems to think it could be money laundering.

Has anyone ever come across anything like this or know what it could be?

Advice welcomed!
TIA ?