I received a letter dated October 28, 2008 from Platinum Financial Services Inc. The letter (notice) read as follows:
We are pleased to advise you that you are one of the winners in the "All AMERICAN SWEEPSTAKES DRAWING" held among randomly selected individuals in North America in a bid to promoting family well-being. This drawing was held on October 17, k 2008 under the auspices of GAMES/GAMING ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA.
An Entry Slip with serial number 4816794 attached to your name drew the lucky winning numbers 11-67-48-55-23.
You are entitled to the sum of US $450, 000.00 (four-hundred and fifty thousand dollars) payable to you by Certified Check, and will be delivered to you by our special courier company. You are advised to contact your Claims Agent: Jason Williams, 1-778-316-1410 Monday through Saturday... 8 am... to... 6pm (Pacific Standard Time), for further instructions on how to claim your big winnings.
Enclosed is a check of US $4, 980.00 which you will use to pay the Non-Resident Government Service Tax (GST), payable to your tax agent by Moneygram as stated below:
Tax Agent: Ashley Duke, Block #283 Revenue Avenuie, St. John, NF A1B4M6, Canada.
Tax Amount: US $3, 980.00 (Three thousand nine hundred and eight dollars)
Payment Method: Money Gram or Western Union
Do not act on this letter until you speak with your claims agent Jason Williams who will advise you on how to claim your winnings.
This letter was signed by Jeb A. Garfield (Promotions Manager)
I called Jason Williams at 1-778-316-1410, and he was very vague and would not give me any details about anything. All he told me to do was immediately deposit the check for $4, 980.00 into my checking account and then to call him back. I have not checked the validity of the check, but the company name is Pinnacle Seals, Inc., in Little Rock, Arkansas and the check is on Bank of America security paper.
I am reluctant to cash this check for fear that something is wrong with it. Also, why is the check for $4, 980.00 and the Non-Resident Government Service Tax is $3, 980.00?
In the conversation with Jason Williams, he became very agitated when I asked him if this was a scam?
As the gentleman in Detroit who has also filed a report about this same company, I am just holding onto the check until I can gather more information.
Some things that I was not comfortable with are as follows:
1. Plain envelope with no return address; had Canadian stamp.
2. Letter type was black, with dard blue ink in letterhead. Highlighted areas were in red and green with a purple "approved" stamp at the bottom. The letter looked like something that a sixth grader might accomplish with word processing and print with an ink jet printer; however, upon testing the ink, it did not smear so the letter must have been printed with laser.
3. Why is there a Canadian company in charge of this sweepstates, and the check is from an American company? Neither of these companies were in the yellow pages.
4. Why did Jason Williams not give me the complete process by which I would receive the winnings? All he wanted me to do was deposit the check into one of my accounts. I wanted to know everything before anything was done, and he would not tell me. His accent was heavy, and understanding him was difficult.
I am not saying that I have been ripped off, but I believe that this whole thing is a scam, because I cannot find out any information about the so-called North America Sweepstakes Drawing, Platinum Financial Services, Inc., or Pinnacle Seals, Inc.
Something is not "right " about this situation.
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