Universal Lotto E-Payment Sent check, presumably forged, to pay for your processing fees and international taxes. Offering $50000 unclaimed prize money. ripoff Saint Thomas Virgin Island
They mailed me a check for $3950, supposedly payable by Apache Corporation, Houston, TX, routing # at bottom of check 031100209 39115489. Letter from Universal Lotto E-Payment "Michael Daderson" offers $50000 "unclaimed prize money" and encloses the check (they underline the following): "must be deposited into your bank account immediately to pay for your processing fees and international taxes."
I'm supposed to call "Mr Michael Wright at 1-204-952-4978 upon receipt of this notification for further instructions." Other Rip-Off Reports mention that previously people didn't get a check in the first mailing, that they had to contact to get it.
I don't know how they run this scam. I don't imagine the check will actually clear, and I don't see how they could get anything from me. Would I be committing to pay processing fees and taxes by attempting to deposit the check? (I won't.)
I've contacted the Apache Corporation about the use of their company name and logo on the check (they're a reputable oil exploration and development company based in Houston TX). I certainly don't think they're involved directly in this. How could it be legal for someone to mail out checks that look like they're coming from that company?
Kevin
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Dave
New Westminster,British Columbia,
Canada
I'ts not legal
#2Consumer Suggestion
Tue, November 14, 2006
They aren't too worried about breaking the law when their ultimate goal is to steal your money.
The check is stolen / forged. So it "looks" legit to your bank. A forged check takes longer to bounce back to the victim's bank than a bogus check. That gives the victim time to think the money is real, since their bank only puts a 1 week (or so) hold on the check. The victim can then withdraw the money and Western Union it to pay for supposed fees or taxes.
Once they do that, the money is gone. The check comes back unfunded, leaving a hole in the victim's bank account. That's how they hope to steal your money.
Western Union can not and will not track the money.