I was notified by mail that I had one a June 28th Sweepstakes from Readers Digest, Publishers Clearing House, and Online Games, in the amount of $50,000.00. They included a check for $3,665.00, that I was to deposit before contacting a claims representative by the name of Mr. Larry Johnson (1-905-920-3894) for further clarification and instruction on claiming my winnings. I was told that I would be using "some money" out of this check to pay "taxes" to the government and that it had to be paid using Moneygram or Western Union. RED FLAG # 1!
I didn't deposit the money into my account but called Larry Johnson as though I had. He barely spoke english, had a heavy accent, and said that he had been trying to call but I wouldn't answer the phone. B. S because the only phone I have is a cell phone that is attached to my side. RED FLAG # 2!
I did some research and learned that "Taxes" are always taken out of your totall winnings and sent directly to the government, and that the "winner" of any such prize doesn't even have to deal with it. RED FLAG #3! I tried to find the GLGC or Gand Lottery Gaming Corporation (which was the letterhead on my letter) and couldn't come up with anything. FLAG #4! I also tried to find the bank (out of Fort Worth Texas) that the check was written out of, and did come up with one. Summit Bank - however, the phone number I got for the bank was phony and gave me nothing but a busy signal despite trying at different times of the day and from different phones. FLAG # 5!
So, I've concluded that this is a scam. I will say that before the whole "send your taxes by Western Union" thing I believed that I had won. The check was really authentic looking, had watermarks and everything. I am still trying to get ahold of any information I can have kept the "check" and letter that I recieved. I have only Until August 2nd to claim my "winnings" so hopefully I can find out something by then.
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