Complaint Review: Jessica Moore Of Standard Financial Group (Irish Foundation Lotto)

I received a letter postmarked from Alberta Canada, addressed to myself. Enclosed was a check from Wachovia bank in the amount $3,657.90 and a winning certificate from the Irish Foundation Lotto. The certificate was dated Nov 26, 2007 notifying that I was awarded a lump sum of $175,000.00.
WINNING CERTIFICATE
"Ref: #NNC 609D21R030
Winner Code: VATZ 67430

Date: Nov. 26, 2007

You are hereby informed that after the just concluded IRISH FOUNDATION LOTTO held in Dublin, Ireland, you emerged as one of the winners in the third category. CONGRATUYLATIONS!!! Participants were selected via a computer ballot draw from One Million five Hundred Thousand names(1,500,000) drawn from Europe, Australia, Asia and North America. Your name attached to coupon number 102-35485 with serial number 005-769 drew the lucky numbers of 12-23-15-27-33 which subsequently won the lottery in the third category. You have been approved for the lump sum of $175,000.00 USD(ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY). This is from a total cash prize of $3,500,000.00 USD (THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) shared among (Sixteen) international winners in different categories. This is an annual competition organised since the New Millennium in our noble drive to go global.

A sponsor's check of $3,657.90 is enclosed to assist you finance your international clearance fees of $3,445.00. Your clearance fees should be forwarded to our designated NORTH AMERICA AGENT. However, you will receive a total of $175,000.00 minus $5,250.00(3% Sponsor's Commission). Invariably, you will receive a total of $169,750.00 Your agent will give you further details. In order to avoid double claiming or unwaranted taking advantage of this program by participants and the public, we therefore strongly advise that you keep this award highly confidential as part of our security protocol until your winning has been processed and money remitted to you.

To commence your claim, contact your agent, JESSICA MOORE, of, STANDARD FINANCIAL GROUP at 114 SPENCER AVE, STE 505, WINNIPEG,MB, an accredited agency to IRISH FOUNDATION LOTTO at 1-204-952-1478. Note that all prizes must be claimed not later than DEC 21, 2007. Ensure you contact your agent for the AUTHORIZATION AND ACTIVATION of your check.

CONGRATULATIONS ! Once more.

GERALD JOHNSON
PRIZE CO-ORDINATOR"

I called as instructed and spoke with Jessica. She told me to deposit the check and to call her when the check cleared the bank. Once the check clears, I was instructed to take a cash amount of $3,445.00 to Western Union and wire these funds to:
Tracy Martin
260 Cobleskill NY 12043

I deposited the check into my account, and immediately called the bank to notify them of the possibility this check could be fraudulent. I was told by the agent of the bank if this did turn out to be a fraud, I needed to file a report with the bank.

I then contacted Western Union, and was informed this was probably a fraudulent scam. I then called the FBI in Albany NY, and they also confirmed this was a fraudulent claim. They suggested I file a report with the National Fraud at www.fraud.org and Internet Fraud at www.ic3.gov.

I was contacted several times by Jessica (caller id#204-952-1478) to see if I had sent the International clearance fee of $3,445.00 via Western Union. I intructed her my bank had not yet released the hold on the funds as they were waiting on Wachovia bank to clear the funds.

Today the funds have been removed from my account as the check did not clear Wachovia bank.

I will post further updates as they develop.

Vic
brighton, Colorado
U.S.A.