My husband recieved a letter in the mail from a company named Exelon Prize Management Corporation stating that he was a winner of the USA MEGA MILLIONS / PCH (also know as "THE BIG GAME") and had won $45,000.00. The letter had the Publishers Clearing House logo on it along with a claim number. Enclosed was a check for $2,356.48, the letter explained that this was to be used for taxes. He was instructed to call a number and to speak with Mike Bishop the accounts manager to activate the check and start the claims process.
When he called the number listed on the letter, a man answered with a foreign accent. He told us to deposit the check and to call back in 2 days. We took the check to our bank and spoke with them, and decided that it would be in our best interest to put a hold on the money just in case it was fraudulant. We called back after the 2 days and was told to make a withdrawl in the amount of $1798.00 and to send it to a man in NYC, NY. We were told to send it online through Paypal, by credit card, by e-check, or the way they suggested was by Western Union Money Gram. We explained to the man that the bank had put a hold on the money for 10 days and that we would not withdraw the money until it clears. We were told to call back when the money became available, and was sent to give them the confirmation of payment number.
We have since been informed that the check is fraudulant and we are now being charged $30.00 by the bank for a fraudulant check. We were lucky that if we hadn't put the hold on it and had withdrawn the money that we would be liable for the whole amount. I would like to get this out so that others are not tricked by this scam. We were hoping that this was an answer to our prayers and it's turned into a nightmare.
My family have been participants in the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes for many years, it's a shame that someone can use such a well known name to scam people out of their money. This particular scam we were told is fairly new. Please inform people so that they are not taken advantage of especially with the holidays coming up.
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