Reader's Digest Reader's Digest Sweepstakes Congratulations- if you're dumb enough! Bronx, New York
Friday, September 24th
I Received an envelope post-marked in Seattle WA with a return address of Station Square PO Box 605 Bronx NY 10546. Inside was a check drawn on PNC Bank in (no city) New Jersey 08079. the company name in the upper left-hand corner is in Washington, DC 20076 - G.E.I. Company, Geico Direct.
1) First tip-off that this is a rip-off is multiple address, none of which are found in online searches.
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The check is made out to me at my address in the amount of $4,970.00. Across the bottom is the check number and what looks like routing and account numbers. It has a watermark, is void after 180 days, contains fluorescent fibers , microprint and a padlock design- all security features.
2) Second tip-off that this is a rip-off is that it looks completely legitimate. Except the signature is obviously scanned and printed on bad equipment, as it is highly pixelated and unreadable.
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The letter enclosed has a pegasus logo and says Reader's Digest. It's good enough to make me think it's from the monthly magazine publisher. It says they held a sweepstakes drawing and my entry was 1 of 3 that qualified to receive $160,000. It gave a claim code.
3) Third tip-off that this is a rip-off is that I never entered a sweepstakes.
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The letter said to contact my representative "Michael Washington" to process my claim and activate my check as soon as I receive the letter to avoid any delays and "forfeiting of unclaimed prize funds". It says the check is to aid me for the insurance payment of my winnings.
4) Fourth tip-off that this is a rip-off is that if it's my money they would give it to me. They wouldn't tell me what to use it on. Also, the word "aid" indicates that the "insurance" on my winnings will me more than the check amount.
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The last line of the letter says "Please be advised all recipient information is confidential and collection of any personal or bank information are prohibited by our privacy policy."
5) Fifth tip-off that this is a rip-off is something I heard from Oprah once- all liars tell on themselves eventually if you listen long enough. Anyone who has any doubt about this letter and makes it to the last line should be certain by now that this is a scam. They mean exactly they opposite of what they just said.
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At the bottom of the letter are valid logos of Macy's, Zellers, The Home Depot, Target, Sears and Kmart, Walmart and ---Better Business Bureau.
6) Sixth tip-off that this is a rip-off is that they should be able to stand alone. And showing other logos is to make you assume that they are afilliated without actually saying so. And- bak to the check- the Geico logo in the top left-hand corner is not that of the authentic Geico insurance company.
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Knowing that this is a scam, I will proceed as though it could be real and update the developments here as I go forward....
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Flynrider
Phoenix,Arizona,
USA
Just shred it.
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, September 28, 2010
"My question is this...what if somehow someone else got this check and tried to cash it?"
The check is made out to you. Why or how would anyone cash it for someone else? Ever try to cash a large check with someone else's name on it? Not going to happen. On the remote chance that someone else did cash this check and it was found that you participated in the fraud, yes, you would be in trouble.
(aka) Sarah Jones
Caledonia,Michigan,
United States of America
Me too!
#4General Comment
Tue, September 28, 2010
Thank-you for this "heads up". I also received this same letter on September 28, 2010. Everything in my letter was exactly the same except the dollar amount and the "fake" company it was sent from. My "real/unreal" check was made out for $4980.00 and was drawn from State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, no street address, Jacksonville, Florida 32232, yet it also list US Bank NA, East Grand Forks MN. When I received this letter and check I immediately presumed it was a hoax or a scam, yet a part of me was hoping it WAS real, due to being unemployed, on the "system" in the state that I live in, and severely struggling financially. I DO enter the Publishers Clearing House online almost EVERY day, praying for a miracle. The letter stated that the drawing was held July 28, 2010, which falls in line with the time I may have filled out a form at a local fair to try to win something. So after all of this drama..the common sense part of me automatically presumed it was a scam of some sort, which dashed every small hope that it just might be real. I examined the check thoroughly, trying to find the place where it says: "this check is not valid for deposit" or something implying that you have to take further steps to validate it. My question is this...what if somehow someone else got this check and tried to cash it? Would I still be in "trouble" because it has my name on it? The address however, was wrong due to the apt. # stated. Well, if nothing else, maybe I can put it in a frame and label it as: "As close as I'll EVER get to that winning feeling". If this has happened to anyone that actually followed through with trying to call and cash this check, please post here and give the follow through information. *Common sense note: if you WON so much money, why should you have to give ANY of it back??? for insurance or taxes or whatever??? SILLY PEOPLE...TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS!!!
Flynrider
Phoenix,Arizona,
USA
Proceed carefully
#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, September 24, 2010
"Knowing that this is a scam, I will proceed as though it could be real and update the developments here as I go forward"
It won't hurt to call these obvious scammers and have a little fun, just don't deposit the check. Banks take a dim view of customers that deposit phony checks and will likely close your account once the check comes back.