Complaint Review: CITI TRUST FINANCIAL PATRICK THOMPSONJERRY GRIFFITH JERRY NEWMAN CHRISTY CHOUNG

I received a letter from Citi Trust Financial Inc. stating that I had won a national/state lottery/sweepstakes in the past 5 years, it was tagged COMPENSATION DRAW. A ticket with the serial number 29745014AL attached to my name drew the lucky winning numbers 40-62W-76-44-24.

I am therefore entitled to a lump sum of US$250,000.00 (certified check). Enclosed was a check for the amount of US$4700.00 which was deducted from my winnings. The purpose of the check was for the payment of Canadian Non-Resident Goverment Service Tax (GST). Payable to Jerry Griffith the Canadian Tax Agent. They listed his address and told me to pay by Moneygram or Western Union.

I was to contact the claims agent Christy Choung, when I did I was told to deposit the check in my account, I asked why and was told that was the only way they could determine that I was who I said I was. So I did it, my bank cleared the check after a few days so I forwarded the moneygram.

After doing that I was to contact the claims agent C.Choung, she then told me that I would receive a certified check would come UPS in a couple of days.
After about 1 day she calls me back and states that UPS required $1500 to send the check because it was over $100,000. so she asked me to send $1500 dollars insurance to Jerry Newman at the address on the original letter.

I asked her constantly if this for real and she insisted it was, dumb me. But when asked to send another $1500 by moneygram and to send it to someone other than UPS I started thinking something was wrong. Now I have to come up with $2700 dollars to pay my bank back. I never touched the other money left after sending the first moneygram.

My bank cleared that check before it was cleared with the company it was drawn from and they could return it up to 5 weeks from now after discussing this with a FDIC representative.

I don't know how I am going to pay this off, but they need to be stopped and prosecuted for what they are doing to people. The claims agent is waiting for me to call her back to give her a reference number on the $1500 that I was to send to Jerry Newman. She has called me 3 times this morning and I'm not sure how to deal with this. I want to keep her hanging until they are caught, I'm afraid that when I talk to her and tell her I don't have the $1500 they will run.

I have also reported them to Better Business Bureau, FDIC, and Whitecollar Fraud. Now you Ripoff Report. If there is anyway you can help me stop them please do.

This all came about by me replying to an e-mail sent to me stating final notice claim your prize, and because I use to play the slots on line and have joined alot of lottery games on line in the past I thought this was legitimate.

Thank You

Patty
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
U.S.A.