Complaint Review: Direct Clearing House

My father received a letter from Direct Clearing House stating that his name had "been drawn as an exceptionally lucky sweepstakes winner" of $93,000.00. They enclosed a check for $3,525.00 drawn from US Bank in Montana from the account of Cabela's "The world's foremost outfitter."

The letter stated that the funds from the sweepstakes were deposited with the clearing house and insured under my father's name. However, in order to receive the winnings he would have to deposit this check in his account, call the claims agent (Mark Spencer at 514-559-4569) and then be advised as to how to proceed with the claim of the award. This process was necessary, according to the letter, because "international law stipulates that a winner pays a processing fee before his/her funds are released. The same law also prevents you from paying fees out of your own pocket." They provided a reference number and the letter was signed by a Debra Awerson.

It took my 2 minutes of research to find out that this company and this award scheme is all a scam and that, though the routing number of the check is legit, the check itself is not.

Please save yourself the heartache and financial burden and don't deposit a check from this company. Beware too that they use different names and phone numbers with each letter.

Michelle
houston, Texas
U.S.A.