Maybe it is part of a larger experiment to see how people react
something like that might have happened to me at work.
a few months ago, I received a bonus check
when the manager handed it to me, I asked what it was,
to which he replied that it's retroactive pay for the raise that I should have received two months prior
doing some quick math, a $0.50 raise for ~43 hours (so about 45 hours due to overtime) for 8 weeks..
take out taxes..
I expected about $140.
it was over $400
I handed it back and said something was wrong with it
fast forward to two weeks ago.
I received a public award for my integrity
People spent the entire day calling me an idiot
but the thing is, i received three raises this year so far
next time I get a raise, they'll look at my rate and wonder how long I knew something was off