Is it a scam???
By Lifez2short
@Lifez2short (4962)
United States
November 17, 2007 11:21am CST
OK so I go to get my mail and open a letter that was addressed to my hubby. Inside was a check and yes it a real check I had it looked at. But anyway it says that my hubby won a drawing back in 2005. The check is for 3,900.00. But here's why I'm thinking its a scam. The letter says he needs to send 3,000 of it too a bank in Candia to pay for his taxes. Now why would he need to send money to Canada if we live in USA? It also says this is only half of the payment and once he sends the 3,000 to Canada he will get the rest of the money(500,000.00). The letter also has a phone number he supposed to call but it is one of those international numbers that looks like this. 011-27-73-544-7696. I have not had a chance to talk to my hubby about it but knowing him he will probably try to cash the check. I think it's a scam and would like some advice before I tell him about the check.
5 people like this
25 responses
@babiixgiirl (258)
•
17 Nov 07
I would say this is definetly a scam. Just the fact that it asks you to call a number, and send a portion of the 'cheque' to Canada, when you don't even live there sets alarm bells off in my head. We've been getting quite a lot of these, recently, in the UK, and the numbers are usually premium numbers, where they keep you waiting for ages, if they answer at all, and, when they do, they act as though they have no idea what you're talking about! If I were you, I'd get rid of that cheque, and forget all about the whole thing, there's no point wasting your time on this.
@StrawberryKisses (2833)
• Canada
17 Nov 07
Whatever you do DON NOT let your hubby cash it. Take it to the police. These checks have been going around alot. If your hubby cash's it he could end up in jail.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
17 Nov 07
Yes, it's a scam. Cut it up in tiny pieces and trash it. You send the money to the Canadian company for taxes and you get nothing in return. You're out three thousand dollars. These sort of scams have been around for a long time and especially during the holidays when people are more vulnerable.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
17 Nov 07
It is a scam. Your husband has to drop it off at the Post Master General. The check is no good. Here is some information about it. http://www.fishsniffer.com/cgi-bin/forumsyabb/YaBB.pl?num=1189529993
According to the forum I got this info from this is an international country code, so it could be from Lower Slobovia for all it matters.
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
17 Nov 07
Well I know that I call Canada and its not an international number, its an area code and then the number just like calling in the US. Thats a definate alert its a scam. Anything asking you to cash and send back sound fishy and I wouldnt touch it. Id throw it away and never tell him about it. lol
Bay Lay Gray xx
@nesher (237)
• United States
17 Nov 07
It is a definite scam. My wife got the same amount on check. The check was issued by American company. They were real, and I talked to them. They knew nothing about the lottery, and refused that check is theirs.
So, in all these cases. you can smell scam right away...
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
17 Nov 07
the best way to know is go to the bank, they will know whether it is fraud or not. and no, that's not a canadian phone number by the way.
@StrawberryKisses (2833)
• Canada
17 Nov 07
Actually the banks don't know nothing about how to see if the checks are a fraud because they aren't exactly a fraud they are stolen so they are legal its just once the company it came from reports it stolen then the bank will say it was fraudulent. I have had experience with this in the past and let me tell you the banks had no clue.
I took a $50,000 check to the bank it was made out to me and the bank verified the check with the bank the check was from and it was legit so I asked the bank manager to take the check and put it on hold and see what happens. Well a couple days later the bank manager tells me it was a stolen check from Ontario(I Lived in BC at the time) and about 3 months later I had the police at my door telling me that the autorities from Ontario wanted to charge me with theft and fraud. Let me tell you it was an extremely scary thing.
2 people like this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
17 Nov 07
oh Ok I see that in your case the checkw as stolen. so it was actually a real check but stolen and the signture was forged. in my case the check alone was a fake and 2 banks knew it right away.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
17 Nov 07
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1331052.aspx
you may want to check out my discussion above
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
19 Nov 07
Yup a scam. If they ask you to send money for something he won is most definitely a scam. They wouldn't ask you to do that if you won lotto right? Trash it!
@lavenderbloom (1057)
• United Arab Emirates
18 Nov 07
It is definitely a scam. Don't trust anyone who asks to pay money first and then you will get the money. Do not respond to them. Tell your husband about this check and let him also know that it is a scam. Don't fall for it or you will lose your money.
Take care
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
18 Nov 07
Hi Lifez2short! OMG, it is a scam alright! If you won anything, you wouldn't need to send money or pay anything just to get your prize. Don't fall for it my friend and I know your instinct is also telling you it is indeed a scam. Just my thoughts. Take care and have a nice day. :)
@chunter (1759)
• Singapore
17 Nov 07
As long as it includes a disclaimer that you need to send $$ to someone or some place...
It is definitely a scam
A real cheque is one that comes in your mail without any other things (including strings) attached...And you can bank in immediately into your bank account and see the money...
Any other thing is a scam
1 person likes this
@SocialSocietyNews (107)
• United States
18 Nov 07
It is a scam I would beleive as you stated why would he need to take out 3,000 for taxes they would have gotten taxes before they sent it to you I was sent a similar letter with check and I took it to the bank and let one of the bank tellers at the desk examine and investigate and it was a scam if you cash it and it is not legit the 3,000
or what ever amount you receive from the check you will owe
the bank or who ever cashed it for you if it bounces back from 2005.
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
17 Nov 07
That is a scam that I have heard about many times. The thing is you send the money, the check they sent you never clears and then you never hear from them again. I would look at the bank it is drawn from, contact that bank and see if they will verify the account. Chances are it is an account, and possibly a bank, that doesn't exist. I would report that to the attorney general so they can be on the look out, or possibly try to track down the scammers.
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
18 Nov 07
I would take it to your local police and let them check into it. They will be able to find out if it's a scam or not.
@Cocoa33 (921)
• United States
18 Nov 07
Yes, its a scam. If your hubby cashes that check. Two things will happen, he will go to jail or he will have to pay back the money to the bank. I have gotten a lot of those in the mail. I thought it was legit. i wanted to be sure, so i had the bank run a check on it. Days later i was told they were fake. Always watch out for checks that U get that look real. Its best to be safe than sorry. Stay aware. The last thing U want is the feds knocking at your door saying U are under arrest.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
18 Nov 07
First clue - they ask you for money. SCAM! . Trash it.
2nd Clue: If you win something, they send it to you and you are responsible for the taxes. No contest or money winning thing pays the taxes for your or makes you pay the taxes first or pay them the taxes and they supposedly in turn will pay the IRS. Yeah, right. Remember Richard Hatch 1st Survivor! Just got hit arrested because he didn't pay the taxes on the million he won. He said that he thought they did it for him, but had no answer when the check he cashed was for a full million.
Vlue #3 Like you said why Candia if you live in USA and who are you making the check for the taxes out to .. the IRS or some other company?
TRASH, TRASH TRASH!!!!
