Complaint Review: Barclay Finance

I also received a letter in the mail on March 10, 2007, which is dated February 22, 2007 from Barclay Finance Corporation (Bahamas), notifying me that I have won the "lottery" in the North American Holiday Travel Reward Promotions/Lottery Program held on February 20, 2007 with a prize of $24,900. Enclosed was a check for $2990.00, which was to cover the processing and tax clearance fee on the $24,900.00 that I won with a Bahamas Cruise.

Once I deposit this check into my account, and it clears, I am to send a woman in Canada (I have a name and address)$2,700.00, and the will send me the balance of $21,910.00 that I can use for this all inclusive 6-day 5 night cruise to the Bahamas, aboard Imperial Majesty Cruise line's flagship, the MV Regal Empress - or I can spend the money however I choose.

My check was also from the same company, Freund Container, located in Chicago, Illinois.

I also only found sparce information on the Internet, is that this Freund Container is a bottling distribution company clearinghouse, and I cannot get a contact # there to find out of this check is legitimate. The signature is inlegible and there is no printed name to indicate who may have signed it. Other than that it looks quite legitimate.

The Claims Manager that I spoke with (name & phone # provided in the letter) said I am to send a Money Gram for $2,700.00 to a woman in Toronto, and she will then send me the remaining $21,910.00 via UPS, as well as information on the cruise, which will require my signature and 2 forms of ID. I have a final claim date of March 19,2007 before my prize is forfeited.

I decided to deposit the check, see if it really cleared and then decide if I would send the money gram. The check has been in my account for over a week and still has not cleared, today is the last day to claim my prize, and the check has still not been cleared.

My belief is that they were hoping people would spend their own money to send the money gram, and the check would never clear, they would have our money, and we would have nothing. Thankfully, I decided to see if it would even clear before going to the last step.

I wondered to if the FBI would want to be involved as this crosses International boundaries. Any valid responses will be greatly appreciated by me also.

Mary
Locust Grove, Virginia
U.S.A.