I found $3,940 in cash on a Costco pallet – membership card means it was all handed back but I was still rewarded

A COSTCO employee stumbled upon an envelope stuffed with cash but took the good samaritan approach rather than pocket it himself.

John Sotelo from Clovis, California, works at a Costco warehouse and made an unusual discovery during one of his shifts.

While moving cases of water, the employee notices an envelope on one of the pallets.

Sotelo opened it to discover that it was full of cash - $3940, to be precise.

In shock and confused at his discovery, the trustworthy employee alerted his manager.

Thanks to Costco's membership policy, staff were able to track down the owner.

The managers observed the store surveillance video and found the shopper through their Costco member ID.

"It was crazy because my manager walked me outside, and the member was right there," Sotelo told ABC news affiliate KFSN-TV.

The grateful customer did not hide her relief when she met the employee who found her cash.

"She was shaking my hand for like 20 seconds and I'm like 'dang'," he said.

"She told me like, 'Oh, you know, I'm so glad you found this.

'That's for my kids to go to school.'

"I'm like, 'Okay, you know well I'm happy to help.'"

After his good deed, Sotelo was awarded employee of the month which he had made his goal just a few weeks earlier.

Costco proudly put his name on a plaque inside the store.

The U.S. Sun previously shared how a Walmart shopper discovered a cash-filled envelope on the floor and had to follow a rule before spending it.

Meanwhile, another Walmart customer was less lucky after finding a woman's finger in the parking lot of their local store in Ohio.