A few days ago, my wife was mailed a certificate of award from the Swiss Lotto. This certificate stated that after successful completion of the third category draws of SWISS LOTTO, Held in Bern, Switzerland, she emerged as one of the winners of the SWISS INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAMS.
It stated that she had signed up through the North American sweepstakes, as part of their international promotions program.
It was claiming that she had won $86, 000.00 USD, and enclosed was a check for $2, 935.00 was to be used to cover tax and clearance fees. The check looked very real, drawn on an American bank.
It instructed her to call her North American Agent, to activate and authorize the check before December 14, 2006. If not completed by then, they would assume that it is unclaimed and would be null and void.
It also stated that this award program had come to public notice and in order to avoid unauthorized organizations, individuals contacting her, to keep the winning absolutely confidentail.
She called her North American Agent, Heinz Lehmann / Claudia Moserman. Claudia told her to go ahead and cash the check, everything was authorized. That, if she hurried, she would have the money in time for Christmas. Since we have 5 children, this seemed like a Godsend to my wife. She called me at work extremely excited.
The whole thing screamed scam to me. So we have went about this very carefully. I have been busy workling late the past few days. I looked the check over, and it appeared to be a bonified check from a prominant US bank. I googled the bank and it was real.
We decided to deposit the check to see if it was real. I reminded my wife that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It is in the process of clearing now. I had totally forgotten about usaconsumercomplaints.com, but I remembered it today while at work. Low and behold, The Swiss lotto popped right up.
When my wife arrived, she informed me that she called after her sister and told her about the whole thing. Her sister sent her some info that she had came across on an internet search. Finally, it hit home that she was being scammed.
She called the number that was given on the certificate of award. She informed them the check had cleared. They asked her to Western Union the tax and clearance fee's and we would recieve the check via UPS in 48 hours. We are in the process of trying to stop the deposit of the check. Obviously she was being scammed. PLEASE DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM. This is a group of Canadian's trying to steal your hard earned money. IF you cash that check, you will have to pay that balance
0 comments