Complaint Review: W Squared Financial Inc/Tim Michael/Dominic Adams

I received a letter and check in the mail today that smelled of a scam. The letter read as follows:

This is to inform you of the official release of the 2008 Australian Sweeptakes (yes, that's how they spelled it) Lottery held on April.25th 2008 in the 2nd category.

We've made many unsuccessful attempts to contact you regarding this winning. You are entitled to the sum of $125 000USD. This is from total prize of $1.25MillionUSD that was shared and presented among the 10 declared winners. Please note that all the participants were selected through a random computer ballot system drawn from over 500.000 names.
Your claim number is CA/XX-XXXX and in accordance with our disbursement policy your prize award money has been forwarded to our clearing/disbursement institution to release your funds to you either by certify check or money order or wire transfer to your designated local bank account which you will provide.

To expedite the processing, enclosed is a check of $4,980 USD which has been deducted from your winning. You will be using some money on this first check to pay for the applicable taxes on your ($125.000USD)

The tax amount is $3,980USD (Three Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Dollars) to be paid either by Moneygram or Westernunion
Please do not attempt to use this check until you contact your claim agent Mr Dominic Adams. at 1-905-598-1097 for further clarification and instructions on claiming your winning.

Note: If we do not hear from you within period of time, we shall assume the enclosed check as lost and your winning as unclaimed and will be cancelled and declared null and void. Remember to keep your claim information confidential to avoid double claim until you receive your balance, so contact your claim agent within 5 working days.

(Claims/Disbursment Agent) Mr. Dominic Adams.

Congratulations From the Board,
Yours Truly

Tim Michael
(Promotion Manager)

Enclosed was a check for $4,980.00 made payable to me drawn off the La Salle Bank in Troy, Mi The account number is as follows: 071923022-2770721419.
The address given for W Squared Financial Inc. was 4633 Patterson SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512.

As I never participated in the Australian Lottery, and noticed many spelling and gramatical errors in the letter, plus have been exposed to similar scams in my former place of business and through friends, I was immediately suspicious, particularly when it mentioned providing banking information and sending funds by moneygram or western union. I immediately googled the name Dominic Adams and it brought me to this website. I felt compelled to file a report hoping that someone can stop these crooks/scam artists from luring other potential victims into their scheme. It sounds good, and the check looks real, but anything that's seemingly too good to be true usually is!

Sissy
Averagetown, California
U.S.A.