I RECIEVED THIS LETTER STATING THAT I HAD BEEN DECLARED A WINNER OF DE-LOTTO NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY HELD IN DECEMBER. I RECIEVED A LETTER AND CHECK FOR 4700. EXPRESSING THAT THIS CHECK WAS PART OF MY WINNINGS AND THAT IT WAS SOLELY FOR APPLICABLE GOVERNMENT TAXES ON THE BIG WINNINGS. I WAS TO DEPOSIT THE CHECK
I AM EMBARRASSED AND ANGRY NOW THAT I'VE REALIZED I PARTICIPATED IN SUCH A DISHONEST ILLEGAL DEAL! I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, AND ALTHOUGH I AM USUALLY AND ALWAYS HAD BEEN VERY ALERT AND PROTECTIVE OF MY BUSINESS. I BECAME NAIVE AND WEAK, SINCE I ALLOWED SUCH A SITUATION TO OCCUR. I RECIEVED A LETTER, AND THOUGHT IT TO BE UNBELIEVABLE, THOUGH I CALLED THE NUMBER. I SPOKE TO AN "AGENT" THAT EXPRESSED THAT I HAD BEEN PICKED THROUGH A RANDOM COMPUTER DRAWING SENT IN FROM A COLLECTION OF MAJOR STORES, IN WHICH I DID SHOP AT AND HAPPENED TO HAVE A CLUB CARD FOR A FEW. HE LISTED TARGET AND CVS AND KMART, IN WHICH I FREQUENTLY SHOP AT! WHICH MADE IT MORE BELIEVABLE THAN NOT FOR ME! THE "AGENT" SPECIFIED THAT I HAD MAJOR WINNINGS TO CLAIM, AND THE $4700 CHECK I HAD RECIEVED WAS SOLEY FOR "GOVERNMENT TAXES" IN WHICH I SHOULD DEPOSIT. HE GAVE ME DIRECTIONS TO RETRIEVE $2700 AND SEND THROUGH MONEYGRAM OR WESTERNUNION DIRECTLY TO THE TAX AGENT.
I, STILL IN SOMEWHAT DISBELIEF, HESITANTLY LISTENED AND THEN DECIDED TO PROCEED. I KNEW THAT MY BANK BEING OFFICIAL AND EXPERIENCED THAT I WOULD KNOW RIGHT AWAY IF THINGS WERE ILLEGITAMATE! WELL, AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE CHECK CLEARED! I JUST KNEW IT WOULDN'T! BUT WHEN THE FUNDS BECAME AVAILABLE, I FIGURED IT WAS OFFICIAL. I CALLED THE "AGENT" BACK AND VERIFIED I HAD THE FUNDS AND I EXCITEDLY ASKED WHAT WAS NEXT. HE DIRECTED ME TO SEND THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS TO A DIRECT TAX AGENT AND HE GAVE ME THE NAME AND ADDRESS TO WHERE I SHOULD SEND THE MONEY. I AM SO EMBARRASSED NOW AND SO ANGRY SINCE I ALLOWED MYSELF TO ASSOCIATE OR INVOLVE MYSELF AND MY HIGHLY RESPECTED BANK IN THIS DISHONEST ORDEAL! I SENT THE MONEY AND AWAITED RESPONSE FROM THE "AGENT" AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO OR EXPECT FROM THAT POINT ON. WELL, WOULDN'T YOU KNOW... NOT ONLY DID THE SO CALLED "TAX AGENT" RECIEVE THE MONEY, BUT TO PROCEDE I NEEDED TO SEND A THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED MORE! I EXPLAINED TO THE MAN THAT I ONLY HAD $500 DOLLARS LEFT AND I GOT NERVOUS THAT I MAY LOSE WHATEVER WINNINGS THAT I WAS INTITLED TO. HE SAID FOR ME TO GO TO THE OFFICIE AND SEND THAT, AND HE'D TALK TO THE "TAX AGENT" I TURNED BLUE WITH EMBARRASSMENT AND WAS COMPLETELY SICK! BECAUSE I HAD A GUT FEELING ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT! I KEPT SAYING TO MYSELF, WELL, MY BANK IS OFFICIAL AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ALLOWED THE FUNDS TO BE AVAILABLE IF IT WASN'T... SO I SENT THE REMAINING $500 AND HE ASSURED ME THAT HE WAS CERTAIN I COULD PAY THE BALANCE ONCE I RECIEVED MY WINNINGS. I WAS WORRIED AND STARTING TO GET NERVOUS NOW, MORE THAN BEFORE I DID THE LAST TRANSACTION.
WELL, I MADE THE LAST PHONE CALL TO THE "AGENT" WHEN I FINISHED SENDING THE MONEY. THAT WAS THE LAST COMFORTABLE PHONE CALL I HAD WITH HIM! LO AND BEHOLD, I RECIEVE A LETTER IN MY MAIL, FROM MY BANK STATING THAT THERE IS AN IMPORTANT MATTER! THE CHECK THAT I DEPOSITED WAS NOT SUFFICIENT AND CONSIDERED FRAUD!!! WHAT?!! I WAS NUMB! SCARED, EMBARRASSED, ANGRY! I CALLED THE "AGENT" RIGHT AWAY AND I RECOGNIZED BY THE LENGTH OF TIME UNTIL I SPOKE TO HIM, THAT THEY WERE SCREENING THEIR CALLS. I WOULD ONLY GET A ANSWERING MACHINE WHEN I CALLED STRAIGHT THROUGH. I DECIDED TO BLOCK MY NUMBER IN ATTEMPT TO SEE IF I WOULD GET A PICK UP AND SURE! SOON AS I SPOKE TO THIS MAN, I EXPRESSED MY FEELING AND WHAT WAS STATED FROM THE BANK AND HE SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS FIGETY, HE QUICKLY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO SPEAK TO THE MAIN AGENT THE NEXT WEEK TO POSSIBLY GET THE SITUATION FIXED! HE HUNG UP! WOW! I AM SHOCKED AND REALLY MESSED UP BY THIS! I AM AN HONEST INTELLIGENT INDIVIDUAL, WHO ALLOWED THESE DISRESPECTFUL THEIVES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME AND STEAL FROM A RESPECTFUL BANK! I AM DISGUSTED AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S NO CHANGING WHAT HAS HAPPENED, BUT IT HAS MADE MY ALREADY SAD SITUATION WORSE! I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IN THESE DAYS AHEAD, FOR I AM SOLE PROVIDER AND SINGLE PARENT. I AM DISABLED FROM A TERRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT I HAD SOME YEARS AGO, AND I RECIEVE ALLOWANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS DEPOSITED STRAIGHT TO THE BANK. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER RESOURCES AND THE BANK HAS ALREADY TAKEN THE FIRST PAYMENT TO FIX THE 4 THOUSAND DOLLAR DEPT! I CAN'T PAY RENT OR BILLS, OR PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY WITHOUT IT! WHAT A SHAME! I FEEL HORRIBLE AND EMBARRASSED AND DEPRESSION HAS ALREADY DONE DAMAGE, BUT NOW! WOW! I HOPE AND PRAY THINGS WILL GET BETTER. BUT HOW? I HOPE MY LETTER HELPS STOP THESE AWFUL PEOPLE FROM HURTING ANOTHER UNDESERVING FAMILY! ALL I COULD SAY, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER!
BUT, IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT! I DON'T STEAL OR LIE AND I DO MY BEST TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY! I ONLY THOUGHT I COULD DO GOOD THINGS WITH THE BLESSING-(I THOUGHT) WOW! I AM HONORED THAT THE BANK HASN'T AURTHORIZED ANY MEAN OR HARSH PENALTIES ON ME, BUT TAKING ALL I HAVE IS HARSH ENOUGH. THOUGH, I COULD ONLY SAY... WELL, THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR MONEY BACK ONE WAY OR THE OTHER... AND SINCE IN MY CASE THERE ISN'T AN OTHER. PLEASE PRAY FOR GOOD FOR ME.
SINCERELY,
Kimberly
Bronx, New York
U.S.A.
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