I received a letter by snail mail on 07/14/06, informing me of the release by the "Sweepstakes Promotions & Lotteries (SPL) of unclaimed prize money on the 29th of May 2006. Letter stated all participants were selected thru a computer ballot system drawn from a pool of about 50, 000 names across US and Canada. Letter gave the ticket numbers that my name was supposedly attached to with a lump sum payment of a little over $100, 000. This was from a total cash prize of a little over one million dollars, shared among 11 winners in the 2nd category. They advised "my" funds were now deposited with "Kingsway Group Financial Trust and Payment Inc. (no address) and insured in my name.
To claim my funds I was directed to contact their office immediately and that if funds were not claimed by 07/24/06, the law requires them to return such winnings back to Sweepstakes Promotions & Lotteries association.
There was a second letter attached regarding an enclosed check for around $3, 800 drawn on "Quantam National Bank" of Suwanee, Georgia, which is a "prepayment" to assist me with expediting the payment of the mandatory surcharge and processing fees. I was to contact them immediately at (866) 856-7036 to get the necessary authorization and further instructions from my "account agent"
I was told upon talking with a Wendy P**, (((ROR REDACTED FOR SECURITY PURPOSES))) Payment Officer, to cash check and then to call her back as soon as I could for further instructions. I asked her why it was necessary to send me a check and then turn around and send it back to her and her answer was "in the past we've sent out the total winnings to the person, and never recieved the money back for the "surcharge and processing fees". So I played along and since my bank seemed to think the cashiers check looked legitimate enough, I deposited it into my account with of course a 5 day hold on the funds. And, wouldn't you just know it, the check bounced from here to the moon and back, and when I called Wendy back with this information, she said they must have stopped payment on the check because I had not sent in the $3200 in time.
What a scam!! Those people are pretty darn good, and unfortunately I'm sure there are some poor souls out there who send this "processing fee" to these con artists before the check clears their bank. Hopefully this will help someone avoid this vicious scam.
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