This company or person/s sent a letter to my husband congratulating him and telling him that his Home Improvement Grant was approved in category "A" of the North American Grant paid to qualified and randomly selected applicants across the U.S.A. And Canada. (I thought it strange that it would include two different countries)
It indicated that his grant of $39,000 was deposited into an escrow account pending claim.
It said that the grants were awarded to those who submitted applications and a short list of candidates randomly selected from Readers Digest and Publishers' Clearing House databases and by ballot Home Improvement Stores and other participating retail stores. (I guess they figure a lot of people would fall into one of those categories and not suspect)
Enclosed was a check for $1,980.00 from The Bank Of Hazlehurst GA which was supposed to be a deduction from the total grant amount of $39,000 to assist him in paying necessary fees and taxes for this claim and saying that paying these fees was a mandatory legal requirement and also serves as a verification method to establish the legitimacy of his claim. (Red flag to me, why not deduct that amount first?)
In order to activate his account he was told to call and speak with the Claim Manager assigned to his file before cashing the check. They said to ask for Peter Winfred or Debbie Hayes at 1-289-892-4236 between 8:30 am and 10:00 pm est. Time (the business is supposedly in Rochester but the phone number is unlisted and seems to originate in Ontario, letter was also postmarked from Ontario).
He was told to call and quote his CLAIM NUMBER and his preferred option (A), (B), or (C). Option (A) cash the check and send back "taxes and fees" via Western Union (Western Union was mentioned as the payment method during the phone call but not in the letter) and then receive the grant minus the first check amount. Option (B) do not accept check and pay the "taxes and fees" yourself and then receive the full grant amount. Option (C) refuse the grant and the Award will be turned over to charities in the State/Province of residence of the recipient after the expiry date.
Final cash settlement was to remain in their custody until he paid the necessary fees and applicable Taxes. Once received he was to receive a second check with his final Award settlement within 3-5 business days by courier delivery.
This letter was signed Sam Edmond V.P. (Foreign Account Dept.)
My husband was told via the phone to Western Union the money to Helen Adams 1220 Linden Blvd., Brooklyn NY 11238.
My husband was very excited about this as he had applied for a grant and was annoyed by my reservations. My husband was hurt on the job and is now disabled, we have six young children to support, and we are very bad off financially. My husband shared this information to a woman he talked to who was supposedly from this company and she assured him that they would help him (How heartless she must be!).
My husband eagerly cashed the check today thinking we would be able to finish needed repairs and move into our home at last while I researched online trying to find something that would convince him it is a fraudulent scheme. I did reverse phone look-ups and the numbers did not match (originated in Ontario while business in Rochester, NY). There were no records of the business named either. I finally found other reports here that verify what I suspected. It seems the checks are very convincing counterfeits and had we sent the money we would have to pay it back to our bank.
Thankfully he has not sent the money yet and will take it back to the bank tomorrow! The business address was listed as a P.O. Box in Rochester (how convenient!). We also received a letter for a Mystery Shopper position the same time we received the above letter and it appears it was also sent from Ontaria, perhaps even from the same person or persons? I will file a report here for that letter later.
It appears this company/or person/s uses different business names but I have found several reports here. How could we group them together?
We are willing to do whatever we can to help find and prosecute the responsible parties.
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