I recently recieved a letter in the mail claiming I had won a SWEEPSTAKE DRAW from Reader's Digest. The letter came in an unmarked plain white envelope. No return address or company specifics listed on the envelope. The letter claims I have won a prize of $255,069.00 and it gave me a file reference number of P974-M309. It enclosed a check for $3,897.07 to cover any expenses until the cash settlement could be paid out. However, I was not to cash the check until I had called to activate my claim.
The Reader's Digest Office claimed to be in Atlanta. Address: 1125 Cornell Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, 33412. Phone number 1-604-771-4537. The check is listed as coming from a company called HILITE International, located in Texas. 1671 So. Broadway, Carrollton, TX 75006. And the check also listed a P.O. Box 814649, Dallas, TX (No zip code). And the bank of the check is listed as NATIONAL CITY BANK in Ashland Ohio. The check number is 023852 and it is signed by a GA Farmer. I might add, that this check is very authentic looking. Any persons not reading the letter fully could very easily try to cash this check for there are no markings on the check to make it look like a fraud.
The letter wanted me to contact either Michael Samuelson or Carol Nicholson at 1-604-771-4537 to activate my claim. And then the letter was signed by Jonathan Walsh of prize disbursement and there is a photo of "said" Jonathan Walsh.
I called the number, only once so far, and after about 12 rings I got a recording stating the persons at this number is busy, to try and call back later. After that, is when I checked out the internet to see if this is indeed a fraudulent set-up. I also researched the area code (604) and it shows it is in British Columbia.
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