Peter
Brighton,#2Consumer Suggestion
Thu, October 26, 2006
I prey you didn't cash that check yet. This is a classic advance fee scam. Most likely pulled off by our not so good Nigerian friends now residing in Canada. The Western Union request is the big give away. They love Western Union. Ten minutes of research found the following. 1. There is no such company as: Saks Management Consultants 2. The is no such address as: 1429 Sattle Street Houston 3. 905-781-1366 is Ontario Canada. 4. Most damning of all. I found this on the real Morgan Keegan's wed site: Morgan Keegan clients have been among those targeted with a recent spate of fraudulent sweepstakes/lottery letters and bogus checks drawn on non-existent Morgan Keegan or Regions accounts. The sweepstakes/lottery award letters are supposedly sent by companies claiming that the recipient has been identified as a winner of a substantial amount of money. Company names used in the scams brought to our attention are Zilos Management Consultants, Saks Management and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The bogus checks included with the letters are supposedly drawn on Morgan Keegan or Regions accounts, include Morgan Keegan's corporate headquarters' address and have ranged in amounts from $4,680.23 to $4,975.00. The Zilos Management Consultants letter references Publisher's Clearing House and includes an award check that appears to be issued by Morgan Keegan. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation letter references a North American/European Sweepstakes Lottery and includes a check drawn on a phony Regions account with OLGC's name and Morgan Keegan's address. THESE CHECKS ARE FRAUDULENT. Morgan Keegan has no affiliation with Zilos Management, Saks Management, OLGC or any other sweepstakes/lottery organization. Do not put your personal identity at risk by responding to the letter or attempting to cash this check. Here's how scams like these can harm you. An award letter indicates that the recipient has won a large amount of money and that the enclosed check is to be used to pay the required processing fee necessary to receive their winnings. The letter instructs you to call in to activate your account in order to receive the final cash settlement. During this call, you will be asked to provide personal information such as name, address, social security number or bank information all of which can later be used for identity fraud or to access your assets. If you receive a sweepstakes letter, do not respond with any personal information or attempt to cash the fraudulent check. If you receive a check, please contact Morgan Keegan immediately by calling 1-800-366-7426, extension 3474 or 901-531-3474; or fax information to 901-579-4473 so we may provide as much information as possible to the authorities. Thank you for your cooperation.