Community Trust, Inc., Mad Al Distributors, Ry River, Inc Fraudulent North American Grant notice with large cashable check enclosed New York Or AnchorageNew York, NY Or Anchorage, AK Nationwide
Official-looking letter w/check for $4970 enclosed. Letter suggests that a US Home Improvement Grant (serial # included) was approved for you that you either filed for or were randomly selected from Reader's Digest and Publishers' Clearing House databases or from other participating stores, such as Home Depot (logos for "sponsors" appear on back, mine include Microsoft, Costco, ADM, Office Depot etc.).
You are asked to choose a payment option, A (Accept check and pay them taxes & fees), B (Don't accept check and pay taxes & fees by yourself), or C (Forgo grant and it's given to charity). Then you are directed to call and talk with one of two specific people. They even suggest that you "ask our Claim Manager how you can qualify for additional grants to suit your home improvement needs."
The letterhead is for Community Trust, Inc. (CTI). The check is from Mad Al Distributors, A Division of Ry River, Inc.. The bank is First National Bank Alaska.
I checked online first, then called the number provided. I left a message for one of the names listed, but as of yet haven't heard a response. Definitely a scam. Unfortunately, most of us are perpetually broke and even though you know it's a scam, you can't help but have a little hope in miracles. This isn't it.
Jessica
Streator, Illinois
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Mad Al Distributors
Anchorage,Alaska,
U.S.A.
Mad Al's Reply
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Thu, June 12, 2008
We were recently informed of the complaints on your website that refer to Ry River, Inc dba Mad Al Distributors. There appears to be a serious misunderstanding of Mad Al Distributors' role in this matter. A check we mailed to one of our vendors was stolen from the mail. That check appears to have been copied in some manner and used to create a multitude of counterfeit checks. We have dealt with a sizeable number of phone calls, mailed correspondence and been forced to close our bank account.
Mad Al Distributors in no way took part in perpetrating a scam against anyone at any time or ever. We have been operating a reputable business for 20 years. As soon as we were aware of the situation, our bank, First National Bank of Alaska was notified and asked to freeze the account. Notice of the situation was posted on our website in hopes that persons receiving these phony checks and letters would find our website and not be taken by the scam. For weeks our phone lines were tied up answering calls about the checks as we explained the problem to people who called our phone number. We reported the matter to the appropriate government agencies and hope to have the perpetrator of this scam located and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We did every single thing humanly possible to minimize the damage. The scam greatly disrupted our business and continues to do so.
I respectfully request that you let the readers of your report know that our company had no involvement in this scam. We were just as much victims of this scam as well as the persons receiving counterfeit checks on our account.
Sincerely,
Randal R Ramuglia
President
907-274-4115