Complaint Review: Gateway Financial Services Inc. Reeves Import Motor Cars Inc.

I received an improperly addressed envelope from Canada with a letter indicating that it was a final notice for a sweepstakes claim. The address on the letterhead lists a Seattle, WA address, but the check lists an import car company in Tampa, FL using Bank of America as the financial institution.

I looked up the phone number as the area code wasn't immediately familiar to ensure it wasn't a foreign scam to put charges on my phone bill from Sao Tome or something equally ridiculous, and discovered it was from Canada.

The claims agent listed is "Walter Don" and then it's listing a Donald Stuward, with a non matching illegible printed signature and the words (Promotions Manager) listed under it.

The main text indicates that an entry listed to my name won a pot of $195k from "National Mega Millions Sweepstakes" aka "American Direct Sweepstakes" on 4/27/07, that would be delivered to my home by the company agent. It is rife with grammatical errors, and states that Gateway is working as an intermediary hired by the sweepstakes company to locate winners and assist them in the claims process. The check is included to pay for fees needed to get the process started and that I am to wire the money; including a boldly worded directive to contact my claims agent immediately upon receipt.

Steph
Mesa, Arizona
U.S.A.