I Received a letter in the mail stating I had won $345, 000.00 in the Rainbow Investment Sweepstakes. The letter stated that my entry to this sweepstakes lotto was based on cross promotion of credit card purchases, past subscriptions and/or gas rebate promotions. Also, included with the letter was a check for $4, 218.54.
The letter went on to say that with this final notice their affiliate company has provided me with an advanced check to help in expediting the processing of my winnings.
I felt like this may have been legit since I enter everything that I come across. Anyway, I called the number provided in the letter and spoke to one of their reps. He had told me numerous times "congratuations" and also that I can go ahead and cash/deposit the advanced check and that he would notify me in a few days... which he did. He did not ask me for any of my personal information, just to verify the actual winning ticket number that was included in the letter.
The advanced check was issued by Priority One Credit Union of Florida. I looked them up on the internet and called to verify that it was an actual bank. It was.
George Jones, the gentleman from IMEX International I had been dealing with on the phone, had called me to let me know that I needed to pay $1, 600.00 by means of Western Union for legal services that completed the processing and paperwork in order for me to get the actual winnings (minus the $4, 218.54 and the $51, 000.00 I would be paying in taxes on the winnings). I said I would once the check they sent me had cleared and the money was in my account.
I found out from my bank that day that the check they issued me did not clear. I called the issuing bank in Florida and spoke to the bank Manager. After I gave her the information I had copied off of the check she said that check number was never issued by her bank and that it was a fraudulant check.
I then called George Jones back and told him what had just happened. He was very appoligetic and told me he would investigate this and let me know as soon as he finds out what happened. He stated a few times that there was just no way that was possible and that this was a true and legitimate sweepstakes and that I was the actual winner from the announcement made on April 5th, 2008.
I spoke to George Jones the next day and he said that there was a "glitch" in their sysytem and that he would have a new check issued and sent to me right away. That was a week ago and I have not heard from him or anyone else from IMEX International. No one at IMEX will answer the phone or return my calls.
Also, because the check was in fact fraudulant, my bank has closed all my accounts and dismissed me as a "high risk" member. At the time I had deposited to check, I honestly thought it was good and I was in fact a winner.
0 comments