Today Saturday 8/12/06 I recieved a plain white envelope, with not return address, just my info printed in blue ink. Centered in the top line say's "Virgin Lottery Inc" and the letter was dated 8/7/06. The first line stated "From the Virgin Lottery, Inc, we happly announce to you that we have confirmed your winning award of $88, 000 at the Alberta Paymement Center and to enable them to issue the certified check I need to call the offfice at 1-778-552-1821."
Needless to say I called. The first time I got an answering machine with an mans voice from India. I thought I was so excited that I misdialed so I hung up and dialed again. It was the same thing. About 2 minutes later the phone rang and it was the mans voice on the answering maching. I told him I'd received a letter and was calling to claim my winnings. He asked for the serial number at the top of the letter and the amount of the check. I gave him my serial number and told him the amount of the check was for $4780. He said cash the check but don't tell my bank I won the lottery or they will take full taxes and fees out but if I western union $3790 to Mary Kramer in College Park, GA this will take care of any fees imposed by the United States. He said once I send the money western union to call him back and give him the money transfer control number (mtcn) and they will have a cashiers check to me for $83, 000 via DHL or UPS within 1 biz day.
My check for $4780 was from City Bank 5622 Evergreen Way Everett, WA 98202. The interesting thing is, go to superpages and look up City Bank and here's what you find, the correct spelling and address is as follows: Citybank 5615 Evergreen Way, Everett, WA 98203 (425) 355-7375. Another interesting thing is my check didn't even have a contact number for the bank so that's why I looked it up on the internet in the first place. Look at your personal checks... they have your branch phone number listed right on them.
I called local FBI in Oregon 503-224-4181 and told them my story. They said, "DO NOT CASH THE CHECK". FYI: Since it's a cashiers check there's no hold on the funds and by the time you western union the funds you have been taken. And if you don't send the money the FBI said they will call to harrass you so call your phone company to get the call blocked.
*Please call the following agencies in your area. The FBI and Postal Inspector numbers below are for Oregon the other info is national*
FBI Oregon 503-224-4181
Postal Inspector Oregon 503-279-2060
National Fraud 800-876-7060
Canada Fraud 888-495-8501
Internet Crime Complaint www.ic3.gov
Western Union 1-800-238-5772 ask for fraud.
Report this to your local authorities and any one else that will listen.By the way... Thank you Sinjin in Virginia Beach, Virginia if you hadn't wrote your story, I might have fell for the scam because it seems to be real.
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