Anyone heard of an international lottery scam? I just got home and there is a real live check for $2,999.50 made out to me. The check name and address is from American Contractors Indemnity Co in Los Angeles, CA. Says Member of HCC Surety Group with a telephone number. I looked up the company in the yellow pages and it is under Bonds-Surety & Fidelity.
It came with a letter that is a Certificate of Award from World Wide Lotto Inc. It states:
After a successful completion of the third category draws of The World Wide Lotto, held at Geneva Switzerland, we are pleased to inform you of the official announcement today that you have emerged one of the winners of the WORLD WIDE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAMS, which is part of our promotional draws. Participants were selected through a ballot system drawn from 8,000,000 names and addresses of individuals who previously signed for the North American Sweepstakes as part of our International Promotions Program. Your name emerged as one of the winners and consequently won in the Third Category. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of USD $65,000, which is the winning payout for third category winners. This is from the total prize money of USD$12,000,000 shared among the international winners in the Third category.
A tax and clearance fee of $2,999.00 has been financed with the enclosed check, kindly deposit or cash the check to pay for your tax and clearance fee. You will receive a total of ($62,001.00) (side note - why is this amount in parentheses?) minus $2,999 for the TAX. Your agent will elaborate more on that.
PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOUR WINNINGS BEFORE OCTOBER 2ND 2006, OTHERWISE WE WILL ASSUME THAT YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR WINNINGS, THANK YOU.
PLEASE CONTACT PERTER ANDERSON OF [deleted]
Frederick Jenkins (Prize Director)
Now I sign up for sweepstakes, etc. What kind of scam could this be? Any possible chance it's legit. No way am I cashing this check unless I find out it's real. Anyone heard of this?
It came with a letter that is a Certificate of Award from World Wide Lotto Inc. It states:
After a successful completion of the third category draws of The World Wide Lotto, held at Geneva Switzerland, we are pleased to inform you of the official announcement today that you have emerged one of the winners of the WORLD WIDE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAMS, which is part of our promotional draws. Participants were selected through a ballot system drawn from 8,000,000 names and addresses of individuals who previously signed for the North American Sweepstakes as part of our International Promotions Program. Your name emerged as one of the winners and consequently won in the Third Category. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of USD $65,000, which is the winning payout for third category winners. This is from the total prize money of USD$12,000,000 shared among the international winners in the Third category.
A tax and clearance fee of $2,999.00 has been financed with the enclosed check, kindly deposit or cash the check to pay for your tax and clearance fee. You will receive a total of ($62,001.00) (side note - why is this amount in parentheses?) minus $2,999 for the TAX. Your agent will elaborate more on that.
PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOUR WINNINGS BEFORE OCTOBER 2ND 2006, OTHERWISE WE WILL ASSUME THAT YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR WINNINGS, THANK YOU.
PLEASE CONTACT PERTER ANDERSON OF [deleted]
Frederick Jenkins (Prize Director)
Now I sign up for sweepstakes, etc. What kind of scam could this be? Any possible chance it's legit. No way am I cashing this check unless I find out it's real. Anyone heard of this?
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