- Report: #248494
Complaint Review: Pacific Funds Managements Publishers Clearing House Readers Digest Sweepstakes & Internet Casino - CP 4392 SUCC A Ontario
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Author Confirmed
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Pacific Funds Managements Publishers Clearing House Readers Digest Sweepstakes & Internet Casino
PO Box/CP4392 CP 4392 SUCC A, M5W 3S8 Ontario, Canada
Phone:
519-721-1295
Web:
N/A
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Pacific Funds Managements, County Shoppers Sweepstakes, Publishers Clearing House, Readers Digest Sweepstakes & Internet Casino Canadian Cross-Border Scams to Americans With the Initial "Appearance" of Having an American Presence Ontario
Like Wade in Florida (Posted 5/11/07), I also received an awards letter dated May 1, 2007 stating I had one a prize under ticket number 041-906-331. I also received a Cashier's Check in the amount of $2350.00 payable through Macatawa Bank. The check is the initial payment against a total prize winning of $68,000 "to pay for accounting, tax processing, and clearance fees." The address of this bank is 10753 Macatawa Drive, Holland MI, 49423. The letter also stated that the check should be deposited and wait 24 - 48 hours for it to clear. This is an odd requirement for a cashier's check. It then said to call the number above and ask for Carol Elliott.
When I called the number (before depositing the check), I spoke to "Jessica" who asked for my claim number & name & said she would go look up the file. She placed me on hold and after about 10 to 15-minutes, I was disconnected. I called back and talked to Jessica again, told her what happened and she promised "I wouldn't be disconnected this time". She put me on hold again, & I was once again disconnected after 10-15 minutes.
The third time I called back, the call was forwarded to a voice mail system that said, "You have reached 905-920-2433, sorry but there is no more room to record messages..." Note that this is a different telephone number than the one above, so for some reason, the 519 number is actually call forwarding to the 905 number. This may imply that my telephone bill will have some outrageous charges on it, but that will not be known until I receive the bill. Both area codes however are in the Ontario/Toronto areas of Canada.
As far as the cashiers check, I believe it is real. I will likely open up a new account & let it sit there a few weeks. As far as the balance of the stated prize payout of $65,650, I will do all I can to enforce the committed payout. Therefore, Jessica, Carol Elliott or whoever you are, I am looking for you and I expect my money! I also expect that you will not put me on hold the next time I call.
Dale
Temecula, California
U.S.A.
When I called the number (before depositing the check), I spoke to "Jessica" who asked for my claim number & name & said she would go look up the file. She placed me on hold and after about 10 to 15-minutes, I was disconnected. I called back and talked to Jessica again, told her what happened and she promised "I wouldn't be disconnected this time". She put me on hold again, & I was once again disconnected after 10-15 minutes.
The third time I called back, the call was forwarded to a voice mail system that said, "You have reached 905-920-2433, sorry but there is no more room to record messages..." Note that this is a different telephone number than the one above, so for some reason, the 519 number is actually call forwarding to the 905 number. This may imply that my telephone bill will have some outrageous charges on it, but that will not be known until I receive the bill. Both area codes however are in the Ontario/Toronto areas of Canada.
As far as the cashiers check, I believe it is real. I will likely open up a new account & let it sit there a few weeks. As far as the balance of the stated prize payout of $65,650, I will do all I can to enforce the committed payout. Therefore, Jessica, Carol Elliott or whoever you are, I am looking for you and I expect my money! I also expect that you will not put me on hold the next time I call.
Dale
Temecula, California
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Mark
Westland,Michigan,
U.S.A.
FBI Confirmation
#2Consumer Suggestion
Tue, May 15, 2007
Hello, I also received this letter and cashiers check. I found this helpful link which confirmed to me that this was a scam. I submitted this information to the FBI online tip submission with the details of this letter and check. In very short order I received a call from a very helpful and friendly person from the FBI Internet Tip line who informed me that this is a scam which they are aware of. Also of course that the check was not to be deposited :) Hope this helps.
Chris
Euless,Texas,
U.S.A.
That isn't Publishers
#3Consumer Comment
Mon, May 14, 2007
Clearing House and Readers Digest that sent you those. They use those names like they use the banks names to give the con some legitimacy. These are a variation of the employment scams that are all over email boxes. You, in your case, get a cashiers check, deposit it, then are told you will need to western union money out of your account to collect the rest of your winnings. Somehow they knew that you had not followed the rules and therefore cut contact with you. Of course the cashiers check is bogus, you have taken money out of your account and sent it out to the con-men, and as you would have found out, you would be on the hook for the loss of the amount of that bogus check. The employment scams are international, that the company needs to hire you to just put money orders into your bank account and then western union the money to "headquarters" after of course you take your pay out. Problem here is that the money orders are bogus, fed to you, you put in your bank, wire money out and you are once again on the hook. Dont fall for these things. NO ONE GIVES FREE MONEY OUT - ya know if its to good to be true...there is so much greed in the world. These scams can't work without the greed of their victims.
Dale
Temecula,California,
U.S.A.
So much for the "Real Check" Below is the exerpt from a posting by the FDIC a posting
#4Author of original report
Sun, May 13, 2007
September 15, 2006 TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer) SUBJECT: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks Summary: Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Macatawa Bank, Holland, Michigan, are reportedly in circulation. Macatawa Bank, Holland, Michigan, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items display the routing number 072413845, which is assigned to Macatawa Bank. The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic checks and display the words "PAYABLE TO" centered on the left side. The letters "MP" appear below a padlock symbol to the right of the signature line in the lower-right corner. Authentic checks display the words "PAY TO THE ORDER OF" in a script font centered on the left side. The statement "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND, FOIL ACCENT, AND A BACKSIDE AUTHENTIC WATERMARK; ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY" is printed in script font below the dollar amount line. Printed above the signature line in the lower right is the statement "VOID AFTER 90 DAYS."
