Complaint Review: Union Financial Securities & Trust

I received a dubious letter dated July 8, 2008 from Claims/Disbursement Mgr. Mr. Steve Collins to state I was one of 32 declared winners from a random computer ballot system drawn from over 5,000 names. Gave me a check no. 577753585 for $4875.00 drawn on the National City Bank, 10 W 2nd St., Ashland, OH 44805 dated 07/08/2008.

The name of the issuing company on the check: Union Financial Securities & Trust 6300 Wilson Mills Rd, Mayfield Village, OH 44143. The check has a gold foil "security" box and looks official till I noticed the signature was blurry like a stamp and the checks account numbers were smudgie looking-plus it was missing the color threads it talks about on the back of the check.

The letter states to tell no one till I get my share of the winnings( 32 winners for $4 million dollars or $125,000 each. )Also, stated I need to call 1-416-880-9064 before cashing the check -the signature under the Congratulations. is B. Mallard Jr. and then it lists Yours Truly, Bryan McDonald. The letter says I would have to send $2875. in a Western Union or Moneygram directly to the "tax agent" and this check was part of my winnings. ***Well.....first off the check stated the "tax" had to be paid because "Government taxes cannot be deducted from the winning amount beause of the insurance bond policy coverage."

I went on-line and first checked out the banks name and address -they exist..But...the address 6300 Wilson Mills Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44143 belongs to "United Financial Casualty, Co." ***Note: First Clue it was Bogus: Canada Lottery winnings have no "US" taxes. Second Clue: United Financial Casualty is not Union Financial Securities & Trust. Third: Lottery winnings don't ask for money. The heading on the one page letter was in blue my claim number CA/409/NC was in red lettering and the "Winning Final Notification" was in black ink except for the red lettering on (EST)area where the office hours are in black ink. ****

I had remembered hearing about a man who cashed a Canada Lotto check and the check bounced and he already spent the money and the Feds were looking for him becuase of the overdraft on his account. That is when I decided to check the web and it brought me to this site. The plain white envelope had a mailing sticker with my old address on it and the post office forwarded it to me. It has a Canada stamp and no other markings. Beware!! They are getting very slick...I'm happy and relieved I was not sucked into this scam!

Elf
San Antonio, Texas
U.S.A.