Elite Brokers Inc Final Compensation Notifications Toronto, Ontario
I received letter from Elite Brokers Inc with the title "Final Compensation Notifications" The letter was dated on October 2010 and has this following content (note the grammar):
"ATTENTION:
Congratulations!! We are pleased to inform you that you are one of the winners in the second category of the CUSTOMER COMPENSATION AND APPRECIATION BONANZA; Organized for all customers of the major stores in the U.S. and Canada e.g. J.C Penny, Wlgreen's, Wal-Mart, Sears, Home Depot, Kohl's, Kmart, Macys, Circuit City, Best Buy etc. A ticket with serial number 948410 attached to your name drew the lucky winning numbers. We have made many unsuccessful attempts to contact you regarding this winning. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of One Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars (US$100,000.00). All winners were selected though a computer ballot system, random names pulled electronically. To claim your total winning prized, call your claim agent assigned to you, Wayne Freeman, at Tel: 1.647-878-3476 and enclosed is a check of US$3,752.89, which is to assist you with paying the necessary Government applicable taxes and insurance fees on your winning.
The tax amount you will pay is US$2,760.89. You will be paying the taxes through western union to none residence tax agent who is assigned to process your taxes. Your claim agent will assist you fruther on how to pay the money to the Government. When all taxes are paid and confirmed, the Tax agent will contact you with further instructions. The balance of your winning which is (US$96,247.11) will be paid to you in a cashiers check and will be deliver by FEDERAL EXPRESS upon the tax agent confirmation of your tax payment and you will also received a copy of your tax certificate.
Caution: your calim number is the key to your winning prize; therefore you are advised to keep this winning notification confidential until your claim has been processed and your winning prized have been sent to you as this is part of our secuirty measures to avoid double claiming. Remember to quote your claim number in each of your correspondences with your claim agent.
Congratulations, once again!!!
Best regards,
Mr. Jonas J. Olsen
Chairman"
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The check is from Wells Fargo Bank Montana, N.A.
404 W Broadway St
Lewiston, MT 59457
93-516/929
Issued by:
SMDC
St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic
Health System
407 East Third Street
Duluth, MN 55805
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My comments:
Of course I will not contact Mr. Wayne Freeman" nor I will cash the check. I just wanted to warn anybody who probably got this letter and check.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Ronny g
North hollywood,California,
USA
Total scam...
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, December 07, 2010
..you really had to ask?
If anyone deposits the check, the check will eventually be found to be a fake. Then any money the victim sent for "taxes" to the scammers (which will be wired so it is not traceable), and anything spent against it, will become the responsibility if the victim.
If the victim tells the bank they refuse to pay because they cleared the fake check, the bank can also charge the victim with depositing a fake check..aka check fraud. ALL costs and responsibility for this scam falls on the victim. The banks should request that the check be verified, but they do not have to do this. Some will warn a customer if the tellers are trained to spot this..but many banks accept the check, and clear it in two days or less per regulations.
For those interested, this is just a few ways you can tell this is 100% SCAM..
1)There is no "computer system" that "randomly" pulls names for any winnings. If anyone actually wins anything, it will be from a lottery or contest they remember entering and have a stub or ticket for. All large winnings will usually require a trip to an office or to a bank to collect. What the scammers are counting on..is human nature, greed, ignorance etc..as anyone who could think they won money this way and believe a letter/email like this is legit..could deposit the check and send the "taxes"...and then the troubles really begin.
2)You do not pay taxes on winnings in order to collect. You "owe" taxes on winnings only after it is in your possession..as that is when it is considered "income", not before.
3) ANY email or letter you get requesting you to Western Union anything from someone you do not know VERY VERY well..is always fraud, 100% of the time.
LATINO COACH
PITTSBURGH,Pennsylvania,
United States of America
IS A SCAM OR NOT?
#3General Comment
Tue, December 07, 2010
I JUST HAVE A CURIOSITY .WHAT KIND OF A RIP OFF IS THIS ?
1-THEY SEND A GOOD CHECK.
2-WHAT THEY GOING TO DO IF YOU PUT THE CHECK IN THE BANK AND IGNORE THEM