My boyfriend received a letter in the mail with no return address and was apparently mailed from Canada. The letter inside read:
"AIG 305-2270 Empress Ave NE, Seattle WA, 98554 (fake address)
RE: URGENT NOTIFICATION and then there was a Claim #
We are pleased to advise you that your name has been drawn in the annual CONSUMER'S PROMOTIONAL DRAW, organized for both American and Canadian customers of the following major retailers e.g. Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Macy's, Home Depot, Zellers, etc.
Your name was attached with the serial number #------ and was drawn out of a computer database. Therefor, yo are entitled to the preliminary prize of $250,000.00 payable to you by means of a CERTIFIED CHECK, and will be delivered to you by a courier company.
Enclosed is a check for the amount of $4,990.00, (it is a real check) this check has been provided to aide you in the mandatory payment of Non-Canadian Residential Tax, insurance, and delivery charges pertaining to your $250,000.00 winning. It should be noted that you are not required to make any payment by way of your own finances.
In order to successfully receive your winnings you must first contact your assigned claim's agent as listed below..."
Then there is a number for a woman named "Nancy" which is a Canadian cell phone number, and then it says that all taxes are payable to a "Sam Plaker" located at 9091 Thomas Blvd, Toronto Canada. No phone number given.
Then it lists the tax amount, of $4,780.70 and the payment method, which is Money Gram or Western Union. At the bottom of the page there is a photo of a man (presumably fake) and the name "Collin Thompson" alleged West Coast Manager and his phone and fax number, which are in Tacoma Washington.
We decided to call both these people, at first we went along with it and said we would cash the check, which they were eager to have happen. I called again to gain more information and needless to say, "Mr. Thompson" did not like me asking questions, and hung up on me repeatedly. Both parties claim to be employees of AIG, and they tell you to deposit the check and then call them back and let them know when the check will clear.
I called AIG and they said they do not participate in any sort of promotional drawings, lotteries, etc. and I have reported all this to the US Postal Authority and AIG Fraud Department.
Do not fall for this!! If you deposit the check and then wire or transfer the fraudulent money then they will receive $4,000 or what ever the amount is for and you will be left having to pay that back to the bank!