Complaint Review: Nationex Lotto Sweepstakes

I recently lost $6,000 of my money from Nationex Lotto Sweepstakes, Inc. They sent me a letter stating that I had won $50,000 with a check for $2,450 for "processing fees". The letter I received had a letterhead caption "Nationex Lotto Sweepstakes, Inc.", with a small caption below "Lotto Publishers Clearing House, Readers Digest, Sweepstakes, Internet and Casino Games".

To be on the "safe side", I deposited it in my account to clear. The bank told me that a check clears after three days. My bank said it cleared and I withdrew cash and I sent cash by MoneyGram to cover the "processing fees".

A few days later, I received a check for $3,750 for "security handling fees" and thinking that the first check was ok and "cleared", I cashed the second check and sent cash by MoneyGram to Nationex.

A day later, a friend suspected fraud and urged me to go to my bank and talk to the manager. Sure enough, the checking accounts of Bank of American and Wacovia did not exist and the bank took $6,000 of my savings to cover the bad checks, almost everything I have.

Tonya
Fall River, Massachusetts
U.S.A.