I received "Award Notification-Final Notice", and had never received any previous notices. Winnings from the Golden Nugget Jackpot, ticket number 516-236-195, and will be deemed null and void if it remains unclaimed after the 29th of June.
It said I had won $98, 000 from a grand prize total of $588, 000 shared amongst 6 winners.
I received a check in the amount of $3350 in a cashiers check. I called Peter Andre at 416-731-5461 and he informed me that I needed to deposit the check, wait till it cleared (this is NOT unusual for cashier's checks anymore!), and then call him back with the confirmation #XYJ2422020 and he would put me in touch with an accountant.
I was listening with half an ear since I really thought this was a rip off from the beginning, since I had never entered any sweepstakes. He said the accountant would help me with the taxes, etc. That the prize money would be sent to me via UPS or FedEx.
He did also tell me, as did the letter, to keep the claim confidential until it had been processed to avoid double claiming or unwarrented abuse of this promotion.
I didn't get to the bank with the check because I wanted to check it out first, for the potential fraud it turned out to be. I was thinking that if I deposited it, it would make my information available to these people, which in fact, seems the case.
Nowhere in the conversation with Mr Andre did he ask for any information about me or ask me to send money, all which I knew were red flags for fraud, nor did he ask me to buy anything first! This all sounded very legitimate. The check looks very legitimate. The routing number only contains 6 numbers, however.
The check was drawn on THE BANK of Edwardsville, Illinois 62025, which is a legitimate bank. The remitter is "Kevin Norman" and the letter was signed by Mr. Leonard Matheson, Vice President.
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