Finance Specialists, Reader's Digest, Publisher's Clearinghouse Sent letter stating I won 68000 USD & check for 1998.13 USD Ripoff Edmonton Alberta Canada
I received a letter that states that I won $68,000 USD on the April 6th 2007 Sweepstakes draw. It states that it is a computerized ballot system from Readers Digest, Publisher's Clearing House computer games and sweepstakes with database from Horth America, Europe and Asia, as part of an International Promotions Program (IPP) which is conducted annually. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
It is our duty to inform you of the existence of International Law guiding the fair personal collection of cash prizes. This International Law ensures that a winner pays a processing fee before the funds are released. Be advised, your Reference Number :-------, must be kept confidential until your claim is completed.
Your funds are now deposited with us and insured in your name. Please find enclosed a check in the amount of $ 1998.13 USD cashable only by you. You will be advised by your clains agent on how much to be withddrawn and sent to the processing office to finalize your claim. This amount in an advance for your processing fee payment which; will be deducted from your total winning, the balance will be paid out upon receipt of you payment.
Please thake advantage of this golden opportunity by contacting your claims agent: Mr. Lucas Peters at ( a 780 area code) upon receipt of this notification.
Please note, all prize money must be clained no later that May 4th, 2007: at which time any unclaimed funds shll be forfeited.
Once again congratulations from all our staff.
Regards
Robert Green
Director Caims & Financial Control
Finance Specialists
The check that is enclosed looks COMPLETELY real and there is a bank by that name in chicago. I have not taken it to my bank as I just received it and do not trust any one!
As you can see the writer is pretty sophiscated as there are only a couple of typos or incorrect usage of grammar (spell check!!) I'm sure its fake, though , however haven't had the chance to check but from what I've seen on this site sounds VERY familiar!There is no return address on the envelope and there is very cheap looking stamping on the headliner of the letter : "Finance Specialists" in two-tone blue ink.The company on the fron of the check is NWS 111, 27 Company Rd ( does not exist) Chicago, Il 60632
Has any one else gotten one of these??
Denise
Lincoln, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Ann
Tampa,Florida,
U.S.A.
It happened to me, too.
#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, January 23, 2009
I recieved a letter stating I won $2500,000 in a lottery from "a computer generated ballot sytem," drawn from over 500,000 names in Canada and the US. This came with a check for $4,895.75 "as partial payment from one of our sponsers, to enable you to pay the applicable taxes of $2,795.75, which must be paid by you, prior to release your winnings." I did deposit the check, which my bank put through to Bank of America, the check was written from, to see if it is fraudulent or can be cashed. I am still waiting to hear, but the Risk management person at the bank is "!00% sure that it is a scam", she had this advice: Never pay out money to get money, anything that seems to good to be true usually is. These people send fake checks to people and get your real check in return, then their fake checks bounce and you are held accountable for your check, and you never recieve any winnings. She said since it is often international, as mine was, from Ontario to me in Florida, USA, no local law enforcement agency has jurisdiction. You can report it to the FBI, if check is fraudulent and can be tracked down it is a felony.