I received a letter claiming I am a winner of the Golden Star Lotto/ NORTH AMERICAN SHOPPERS ELECTRONIC LOTTERY in the amount of $100, 000 US dollars. Enclosed with the letter is a check for $4, 855.00 to supposedly cover the Income Tax due from the winnings. The check, which looks legitimate, is from an account with the Bank of America in DeKalb County, Illinois and for some unknown reason, written on a check from Emerson Motor Technologies/Emerson ELectric Co. in Saint Louis, Missouri.
The letter insists that I can do nothing with the enclosed check before calling Mr. James Adam (Claims/Disbursement Agent) to obtain my "TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER". (Hello?..isn't that my Social Security Number???)
This letter is a fraud for the following reasons:
1) The check for $4855.00 is not a Money Order or a Certified Check. Therefore, it cannot be used for anything until after the check clears after being placed in the recipient's account.
2) Winners of sweepstakes are responsible for paying the taxes themselves. If additional money is sent to pay taxes, that is simply additional taxable money, as the sweepstakes winner is still obligated to pay the IRS. In order to pay taxes, your Social Security Number is needed. Giving that out (to the "Claims Agent"?) sets you up for major identity theft and fraud problems.
I am personally going to the Bank of America, showing them this letter and check, and asking them to investigate. I will not put myself at risk by doing anything else with this fraudulent check.
Be careful out there - this check looks very authentic. Thanks to the complaint for giving me the heads up!
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