- Report: #376375
Complaint Review: Publish Direct Sweepstake - Miami Florida
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Author Confirmed
Why?
Publish Direct Sweepstake
Miami Florida Miami, Florida, U.S.A.
Phone:
305-260-6607
Web:
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Publish Direct Sweepstake Received call stating I won but needed to send Insurance money to get prize. Miami Florida
I received a call today stating I had won the sweepstakes and he was Anthony White from homeland security and had a check for me for $285,000. I quickly said, "Yes and how much money are you trying to get from me? You may find me rude but I have been scammed already this year so I pardon me if I find this to be just another scam." He said he understood. I told him I wanted information so I could verify his legitimacy. He gave me the number in Miami, FL and when I called it the person that answered the phone was completely unprofessional. They said hello, never gave a name of the company. I asked for information regarding a sweepstakes winning. The woman, Margaret, asked, "what is my name and phone number and what sweepstakes was I calling about?" As we talked I could hear people nearby talking. After giving her the information she said, "Yes, congratulations, you have won second place $285,000 but this was 4 months ago and we no longer have your check it has been sent to NY for delivery. All you need to do is pay the insurance of $1,550 which is refundable and they can deliver the check."
I thought it was illegal to require any payment for winning sweepstakes and have been waiting the response from the Beacon Counsil in Miami for verification of Public Direct Sweeps in Miami. When I told her I didn't have that kind of money she said than just call Mr. White and they will put the check on hold until you can pay.
Mass winner
Pepperell, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
I thought it was illegal to require any payment for winning sweepstakes and have been waiting the response from the Beacon Counsil in Miami for verification of Public Direct Sweeps in Miami. When I told her I didn't have that kind of money she said than just call Mr. White and they will put the check on hold until you can pay.
Mass winner
Pepperell, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Mass winner
Pepperell,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Publish Direct Sweepstakes
#2Author of original report
Tue, September 30, 2008
I did further research into Publish Direct by contacting the Deacon Counsil in Miami Fl. They told me there were no registered companies by this name. They called the number to see if anyone would answer and received no response. After I got off the phone with them (this was also after reporting the company of this website), I made a call again to the number and got through immediately (apparently they screen all calls), when I asked to speak to Margaret they asked who I was and I told them. There was a moment of silence and suddenly they hung up. I tried calling again and they wouldn't answer the phone. I than called the person who originally claimed to be the award center and asked to speak to Anthony White. They said he wasn't available but he supervisor would call me back shortly. I waited and got a call from a man with a deep accent that sounded Middle East or from India. His voice was so low and his accent was so strong I was only able to understand parts of what he was saying. HE spoke very quickly as if to confuse me. I did understand the part when he stated he was having trouble with getting through to Publish Direct in regards to my check (Please remember that the day before they had stated they had the check in there possession and were waiting for me to pay the insurance and Homeland Security would be delivering it to me the following day). He stated he would have to get back to me on this matter. At that point I blew up and said, "Sure you will, I wasn't born yesterday. You know I reported you as a scam and you know I'm onto you so your just giving me the run around. Better luck with someone else," I than hung the phone up. To all of you that don't think this ite works, apparently the scammers watch it all the time to learn when they are reported so they can change their scam and find another unsuspecting person. Never give money for a winning lottery, no matter how small. A ligitimate lottery never asks for money up front.
