I received a letter with no return address. The following was in the letter
General Dynamics
Advanced Information System
10455 White Granite Drive Suite 200
Oakton, VA 22124
Tel: 1-866-293-2502
Claim number: SEN: 055-255-EN
Final Notice:
We are pleased to inform you that you are on of the third category winners of "The Mega Millions Draw" held in April 21st, 2008.
Your receipt with serial number 774888 35KN which you received when you purchased a sweepstakes ticket, drew the lucky winning numbers 2-17-34-35-47
You are therefore entitled to the sum of US $100,000.00 (One hundred thousand us dollars) payable to you by bank draft, or certified cheque and, will be delivered to you by special courier company
Enclose is a check of US $3,000.00 which has been deducted from you winning. The purpose of this cheque is to pay for the Tax Clearance Fee.
The payment information is stated below.
Tax Agent: CATE WILLIAM
5432 Westminster St
Whistler, BC
Canada
Tax Amount: $2,500.00 us dollars (Two Thousand Fiver Hundred Dollars)
Payment Method: MoneyGram, or Western Union
You are advised to contact your claims agent PAUL SMITH as soon as you receive this notification at Tel: 1-866-293-2502 to begin the claim process on your winnings.
Thanks you and Congratulation!
NOTE: Please do not act on this notice until you speak to your agent.
(it's then signed by a Franklin Pierce..but it's a stamp signature, not actual)
James Williams (Promotions Manager)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I was wary of it right away. First, I don't remember ever entering any sweepstakes. Second, look at all the typos in here. US isn't capitalized in some places, check is spelled incorrectly in others and what's with all the different names. The check itself looks legit, but it's got Maverick Metal Trading for a heading on it. I looked online and Maverick Metal Trading and General Dynamics are both legit companies but have nothing to do with each other as far as industry goes. I and my husband actually called this 'Paul Smith' three times. The first time my husband called and he didn't get an answer. I called and it was a funny ring tone, some guy answered just 'Paul Smith' and he sounded like he was on a speaker phone and he had marbles in his mouth. I asked him what this had to do with and he mumbled something about a charity. He then told me to call back in ten minutes. So I had my husband call back and he then told my husband to call back in 30. That's when I decided to look into scams and sure enough, it seems this particular scam has been going on for a while in different areas of the country. So, take the check, tear it up and throw it away. Or, go to the police and let them know. I'm going to see about posting it to the local media. See if maybe they can put it on the air and warn others about it. I mean, in this time, what with Wall Street tanking and all, people can be desperate for money. I certainly can use more money and I was jazzed at first that this could be the real thing.
Catjenlaur
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
U.S.A.