Complaint Review: Camlote/Camelot Group UK

I received a letter in the mail informing me that I had definitely won my share of a multi-million-pounds sterling lotto from the Euromillions Mid-Year International Bonanza. My lump-sum amount was 700,000 ! I was to contact the "foreign service manager" Paul Adams to find out to proceed.

I suspected this to be a gimmick, but just in case, I decided to take the bait/play along for a while. The following took place of three days (but I received the letter last week).

I had three choices as to how to receive my payment: 1) provide bank routing/account numbers (yeah right!), 2) by check or 3) in person. I told them I wanted to receive my award by check. Adams told me I had to provide proof of identity, either a copy of my driver's license or passport.

He then sent me, by email still, a "winnings certificate", and also informed me that I needed to let him know that I'd gotten the winnings certificate, then the company would send, by the end of the next workday(20June07) a hard copy of my "winnings certificate" along with my check via "insured Royal Mail". I would also receive an exclusive 13-digit tracking number for my insured mail! So, I told him that I'd gotten the email attachment of the winnings certificate, and now, they could mail my check to the address they already had.

The other shoe finally dropped this morning. Before Barclays Bank could release my funds, they needed the funds release certificate. Now, how would they receive that? I had to send, via Western Union, 358, so that Camlote Group could get the release certificate over to Barclays Bank!

I told Adams that he had my permission to deduct 358 from my 700,000. Needless to say, he replied that his company could not do that as they were merely a bond and claims agent for the Euromillions Lottery. I then informed him that he could send me Barclays Bank information so that I could pay them directly, seeing as that would cut down significantly on the time/hassle of this entire process...I've yet to receive a reply.

Robert
Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.