Ann
Tampa,#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, January 23, 2009
I recieved a letter stating I won $2500,000 in a lottery from "a computer generated ballot sytem," drawn from over 500,000 names in Canada and the US. This came with a check for $4,895.75 "as partial payment from one of our sponsers, to enable you to pay the applicable taxes of $2,795.75, which must be paid by you, prior to release your winnings." I did deposit the check, which my bank put through to Bank of America, the check was written from, to see if it is fraudulent or can be cashed. I am still waiting to hear, but the Risk management person at the bank is "!00% sure that it is a scam", she had this advice: Never pay out money to get money, anything that seems to good to be true usually is. These people send fake checks to people and get your real check in return, then their fake checks bounce and you are held accountable for your check, and you never recieve any winnings. She said since it is often international, as mine was, from Ontario to me in Florida, USA, no local law enforcement agency has jurisdiction. You can report it to the FBI, if check is fraudulent and can be tracked down it is a felony.