Complaint Review: Global Financial

I just received a letter in the mail from Global Financial INC (in Winnipeg, MB) stating:

"This is to inform you of the release of the North American Prize Pool held on October 10th in which your name was drawn randomly. You have been accorded 2nd tier winner status.

All participants were selected with a computerized ballot system...... etc.....

You have been awarded a lump sum payout of $182,610.

Enclosed please find a check of $2,898.00 which covers both the administrative payment and clearance fees... Please contact Meagan O'brien at 1-204-951-1982, by no later than November 17th.
Signed,
Sandra Eickel (finance director)"

I am so glad that my neurotic, paranoid instincts kicked in and I immediately went to the internet to investigate. I am sure many people are scammed, because we all, at one point or another, enter a sweepstakes, contest, etc and then completely forget about it. They are relying on this to catch us off guard. I actually got excited when I saw the check and noticed the "watermark, security seal, etc" and starting "spending" the money in my head...when I came out of my daydream I thought I should double check and VOILA! found a number of Global Financial complaints. Its interesting how each is a bit different, but the "jist" is the same.

NOTE: The check is "backed" by The Bank of New York and has Better Clothing Center (Sandra Eidensohn), 2 Phyllis Terrace, Monsey, NY 10952 as the sender. I checked and Better Clothing Center is a real business...I will try to contact them to let them know their name is being used (who knows, maybe they're IN on it too!).

Thanks for letting me rant... and I hope this helps someone else.

A
miami, Florida
U.S.A.