Publisher's Clearing House Check Scam

[HOTLNC]

My wife got a letter today from the Publisher's Clearing House's 100 Million Dollars Super Cash Giveaway Promotion", saying she won second prize. They enclosed a check for $6,470.20, to "cover insurance and attorney fees." She's supposed to call a telephone number and speak to Mr. Miller BEFORE she deposits the check.

There are several red flags here:

1. The letter is postmarked from Austin Texas.
2. The check is from an industrial supply out of Needham, MA. A real company -- I looked them up.
3. Mr. Miller's telephone number traces back to an address in Ontario Canada.

The way this scam works is when she calls Mr. Miller, he asks for money -- say $2.5K -- less than half of the check, and he will do something to get the rest of the "second prize money" back to her. The check will clear and she could pull from the deposit. It may take several days for the check to actually bounce. When it does, you have to give back all money you pulled from that check and you are OUT of the money you sent Mr. Miller.

You can read about the scam here, if you are interested:

http://info.pch.com/consumer-information/fraud-protection

"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch."

 

[steve]

Could only trust it when Ed showed up at your house with a big check and balloons. They are getting creative.

 

[billcu]

Yes, scams are getting out of hand lately.

I got the scam phone call from the "IRS" saying they were going to sue me.

If the IRS wanted more of my money, they would just take it.

 

[HOTLNC]

The wife got another scam letter and check today. This time she won $998,000, from some "international lottery". The check was for $4,899.00 and was marked for ALDI INC. It mailed from Canada. The return address on the envelope (the other mailing had no return address) is written like an business but Goggle Earth shows that that address is for a Marriott Inn in Ontario, Canada. The phone number to call before she deposits the check was to an 866 number.

 

[tixer]

It's interesting to me that the checks they are sending you are real checks, from real companies. I wonder if Aldi knows that their accounts have been compromised in some way.

 

[steve]

It only takes one person to fall for the scam to make it worth it to the thieves.

 

[HOTLNC]

Actually, all ALDI could do would be to sue the scammer for trade name/trademark violation.

If the check was 100% real, the scam would not work. It is just real enough such that the bank will "clear" the check for funds withdrawals in a day or two. But by the time the check reaches the bank listed on the check -- the check will bounce. By this time, you have been conned into believing the check good and gave money to the scammer to retrieve your "prize." A few days later, when it bounces, you are responsible for the money your pulled from the rubber check.