Complaint Review: PCH - Judith Benson Rep - Cathy Stewart CFO - Harvey Armstrong IRS Rep

I recieved a letter from PCH in an envelope w/no return address except for a flower stamp and postal markings from Canada, stating I was the third place winner of a $15 million dollar contest sponsered by Martha Stewart Living Magazine and enclosed was a super real looking check for $5889.00. The letter instructed me to NOT deposit the check before calling Ms. Judith Benson at 888-690-9874 ext 1 and it also stated that me file was being handled by a Mr. Harvey Armstrong at the ITERNAL REVENUE (for crying out loud!!!!!)

At first I was skeptical but then I called Ms. Benson she asked me to spell out my full name and give her the security code on the letter, she then put me on hold. This heffer then had the nerve to come back on the line and asked me if I was sitting down...she proceeded to announce to me that on behalf of Publishers Clearing House she wanted to congragulate me onn being the third prlace winner of $1 million usd!!! I almost had a heart attack. I began to cry and asked her if she swore to God this was real she chuckled and said yes (this heffer was amused by my hysteria! And I was hysterical). I was so thrilled that I could no longer even speak to her on the phone...I cried and fell to the ground and thank my God that he has heard my prayers as I have been going through EXTREMELY difficult finanacial issues. She told me to keep everything highly confidential and told me not to deposit the chaeck just yet, she asked me if my bank was a reputable bank and told me that they were going to call me back with a delivery date and that I would be receiving the money in my account on a monthly basis.

I hung up with her and called my family who live across country...made them all gather at my mother's house and made the huge announcement...they were estatic and so happy for me. I already though of all of the things I would do with this money...like pay off debt, buy my kids a house, help my mother and set trust funds up for all of my nephews and my niece and my little cousin so they wouldn't have too go through the hardtimes my generation and all the generations in my family before mine went through.

I called my friend at work and he came on his lunch break to check out the paperwork. Everything looked so authentic...after all PCH and Martha Stewart are both reputable names so how could they allow their names to be used if this was fake right? WRONG! My friend went back to work and googled the phone number for Judith Benson and found himself on this website. he called me with a heavy heart and broke the news to me that this was all a scam. I can't describe to you the disappointment and despair I felt. Just when I thought God looked out and was giving me the opportunity to set my life straight it was ripped from me before I even had the chance to let it really sink in. These people are terrible. I don't understand how they have the heart to do this. What I really don't understand is that if so many people know this is a scam why hasn't their whole operation been busted by the feds? These people are clearly committing crimes. AND why hasn't Martha Stewart and the real PCH been made aware that these people are using their names as the premise behind this whole deal. You would think there would've been a lawsuit filed by someone. Well if there is a lawyer or any other fellow broken hearted people that want to join me in taking action against these people PLEASE notify through email.

I cannot express how hurt I am by this and I don't understand how this is continuing to happen. I was gullible and naive and thought that I was just lucky.
BEAWARE AMERICA!!!!!!!

Dannette
Dumfries, Virginia
U.S.A.