Allstate
Letter promised $250,000 prize; enclosed $4,980.60 check bounced

Allstate sent a letter advising that my name was drawn out of a computer database for an annual "Consumers Promotional Draw", organized for American and Canadian customers of major retailers, e.g., Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Macy's, Home Depot, etc. It said I was entitled to the preliminary prize of $250,000 by means of Certified Check, delivered by a courier company (Money Gram/Western Union). Enclosed was a check for $4,980.60 as payment toward the mandatory "Non-Canadian Residential Tax," insurance and delivery charges. I was instructed to first contact my assigned claim's agent, Nancy Brown.

I did, and she instructed me to call her when I deposited the check. I called her about the deposit, and I called her again when the check bounced. She said she would look into it and call me back. She did not. I called her again, and she was unable to answer why it bounced; she said she would call me back. She did not.

By this time, I had looked under the Consumer Report and found another person who experienced a similar incident with Allstate but with different agents/country. So I did not pursue it any further. I just want to know the purpose of this nonsense. What are these people trying to do? Probably to gain access to your checking or credit card accounts.

Company: Allstate
Country: USA
State: Washington
City: Tacoma
Address: 345-4423 NW Glascow Ave

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