I received a letter stating ''you are the lucky winner of unclaimed prize money.'' The letter said I was randomly selected through a computerized ballot system for the 2007 sweepstakes draw.
It was a draw from Readers Digest, Publishers Clearing House, Online Sweepstakes, Internet Games, etc.
Enclosed was a check for $4030.30, which was to cover both the administative payment and clearance fees of my winnings.
The letter was poorly written and had several typos. The check was drawn on a Bank of America Branch in Atlanta, but they misspelled the county name.
I was told to contact my agent Brenda McDonald. My winnings must be claimed no later than August 14, 2007. I received a claim number, which was to remain confidentially secured until my claim was processed and funds were remitted. This was part of their security protocol.
The letter was signed by Jeffrey Board, the prize coordinator, but the typed name underneath was Jessica Board.
When I called and spoke to Brenda she asked for my address and phone number. She was having technical difficulties and asked me to call the next day. I won't do that. I saw another report on Inserve Financial which was obviously the same scammers as they had the same street address, but in a different city. The other reporter was told to deposit the check into her bank account and in three days contact the scammer but could not reach her.
She found out that this company sends you a ''real'' looking check (other than the county name, the front of the check was a very good forgery. There were some inconsistencies on the back, but most people wouldn't notice them. AFter you deposit the check, it bounces of course and they call and tell you that the check was frozen and ask you to send in a money order to unfreeze it.
If it's too good to be true, it ain't.
Dennis
Skokie, Illinois
U.S.A.
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