[MelodyL]

Hi All.

Need your input.

Today we got a letter from TD WATERHOUSE, Toronto Dominion Centre on King Street in Toronto Ontario.

With a phone number and everything.

It had a claim number

It said Final Notice

The letter said "We are pleased to advise you that you are one of the winners in the second category of a Lottery Draw held on Jan 29th, 2007.

They give the winning serial numbers.

Said we were entitled to $270,000.00 payble to us by bank draft, money order or certified check.

NOW THERE WAS A CHECK ENCLOSED IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,950.00. It said this money has been deducted from our winnings. (ISN'T THIS WONDERFUL??))

It then said "The purpose of this check is for the payment of the NonResident GovernmentService Tax (GST). the payment information is stated below:

TAX AGENT - TONY AYALA
TAX AMOUNT - $2,950.00 u.s. dollars
Payment Method : MONEYGRAM.

Then it said:

You are advised to contact your assigned claims agent Monday to Friday 8 - 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time for further instructions on how you can claim your big winning.

This letter and claim number is of utmost important to claiming your Winnings in this lottery. Please keep it safe and confidential at all time. Please do not act on this notice until you speak to your agent.

Congratulations
Yours Truly

Terry Clement (Promotions Manager).

Now here's where it gets juicy!!! The top of the check says: INTERNATIONAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT, INC. 1621 North Kent Street 4th Fl. Arlington, VA 22209-2105

It's drawn on The National Capital Bank of WASHINGTON, Washington DC (no phone number),

It's paid to Alan's name and it's for $3,950.00

I looked this up on ripoffreport.com and I put in TD WATERHOUSE and a few things came up (under TED WATERHOUSE).

Same scam. You get a letter with a check. You call the number and someone tells you to deposit the check, but you have to write another check to some lady (for tax purposes), etc. etc. Some guy got fleeced for $5000.00

Alan got all excited. I had to sit on him to make him realize THAT NO ONE IS GIVING US ANY CHECK FOR $3,950.00 Notice the amount next to the words: TAX AMOUNT. The amount is $2,950.00. I think they make you pay that amount and then you say "oh well, I made 100 bucks". Then they give you more instructions, and before you know it, you wrote so many checks, you have nothing left in your checking account. Of course I know we didn't win any lottery for $270,000.00.

Would SOMEONE PLEASE BACK ME UP HERE.

Thanks much. Anyone else ever get these type of lottery scams?

Melody

[karousel]

I have heard about these scams. They either get your checking account number or have you write them a check which they cash. The check you deposit of course bounces sky high.

When did you play the lottery that you won?
Where is the rest of the money that you won?
If you got a final notice, where were the rest of the notices?
If the International Relief & Development is looking for donations (per their web site), why would they send your husband a check?

I think it's a scam too!

[Kitt]

It's a scam. No doubt about it

[shiney sue]

We you and I got the same scam,and so many others. The newcaster told people ignore this all the other scams..The sad part people are desperate
and sadly will fall for anything.. this is sad. Hugs Sue

[lor]

The 1st thing I thought of was the last thing that Kitt mentioned....why would a relief fund co. GIVE away money?

SCAM

[Wiix]

Oh HELL yea, it's a SCAM. You need to report this to the FBI, the UPS, the CIA, the FCC, the IRS, the KKK, the BMW, the FTC, the AMA, the BNP, the Good ole Boys, the AARP and whoever ELSE you can think of to report it to.

[MelodyL]

I knew it. We never enter any lotteries. Alan wants to take the check to the bank and see if it's good.

Wouldn't the bank say something to the order 'we have to deposit it to find out if it's good or not??"

I'm not depositing ANYTHING, into my checking account.

I believe that's how they get your account number.

The nerve!!!!!

Thanks guys.

Mel

P.S. Just saw The Happening. Don't waste your money!!

[braingonebad]

Originally Posted by MelodyL

I knew it. We never enter any lotteries. Alan wants to take the check to the bank and see if it's good.

Wouldn't the bank say something to the order 'we have to deposit it to find out if it's good or not??"

I'm not depositing ANYTHING, into my checking account.

I believe that's how they get your account number.

The nerve!!!!!

Thanks guys.

Mel

P.S. Just saw The Happening. Don't waste your money!!

You had it right - it's a scam. DO NOT deposit that check. I doubt that's how they get your account number, but here's the thing.... This will look legit even to the bank. By the time the bank realizes there is no account, no money behind that check, you may have already drawn on those funds.


That will put your account into a negative balance.

Here's another one. We got a money order from Canada. It looked exactly like all the other ones - even had the water marks. Only thing it did not have was the date was not complete.

Our bank did not even notice at first. It was deposited and not rejected for almost 3 weeks. More than a week more than usual. Luckily the bank did finally catch that and return it to us. We were able to - after a few threats and a couple months - get reimbursed.

I still think it was stolen and it was fraud. That person could have gotten jail time for that. I know that postal money orders don't just print with half the date.

Anyhoo, glad you're on the ball about this stuff, Melody. You're a smart cookie not to get stung by that scammer.

[rumpled]

It is a scam. Depending on your local law enforcement or your bank, you can have them report it, but they are so prevelent, that this and the 419 type fraud (used to be primarily Nigerian in origin, but now come from any country) that they will only be investigated now if there is a loss of funds or death. I used to do financial infestigations for a living (money laundering and terrorist stuff) and these came across my desk all the time...
If it is too good to be true, it is.

[freeinhou]

I don't know - TD Waterhouse is a well established discount broker that I used to use (Waterhouse-Price, Ameritrade, etc...)...........

Bottom line - don't believe anything. You can check it out but don't ever commit.

Tom