Has anyone ever been scammed by a lottery? I received a letter in the mail last Saturday with a check for $2950 enclosed. The letter said that I had won $50,000 from online games, publishers clearing house, reader's digest sweepstakes. Being that I am a single mom always looking for ways to make more money, hence playing lotto games, I was so excited. The original check was to pay for international taxes and processing fees. I deposited the check and waited to see if it cleared. My bank posted it as available money, so I sent a money gram to the designated address for the fees ($2900). Then my bank came back and said the check was bad and it bounced. It overdrew my account nearly $2500. I was supposed to be paid today by direct deposit, but last night my bank closed my account. Now I am out $2900 dollars, plus my most recent paycheck, plus my child support check. I have absolutely no money for food, child care, gas, bills, etc. All of this happened in less than a week. I am desperate for a way to repair my problem. If anyone has any suggestions or knows of a way I can collect some money for food or gas for my children and myself, please let me know ASAP.
Thank you from a concerned mom,
B. B
You can try to applie for food stamps. If you dial 211 on you phone it will give you tons of options on how to get help.
You might want to share your story with any of the T.V. news stations (First, select one that has a reporter that specializes on scams. If that does not work, keep pitching it to each station until someone will cover the story for you).
Also, contact the Attorney General's office.
Good Luck!
If the bank made the money available to you, they should have some responsiblitiy in assisting you. If it's a local bank/Texas bank, I would go in and talk with the branch manager about options of overdraft fees and getting payroll and child support money returned to you.
Since you are in a hardship, WIC programs may be able to help with basic food, formula for children. http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/aboutwic/
Finally, I googled 'lotto scams' and found a site that talks about this type of scam. You should report it, although it doesn't appear to be much you do to get your money back..
Hate to possibly make the situation sound worse than it already is, but so you know what to look for next time,
1. You should never EVER have to pay anything to get something that is FREE; otherwise its not FREE.
2. Those checks you get in the mail from publishers/reader's digest all have disclosures on them in fine print that tell you they are not valid/cashable/or non-transferable.
3. If you truly do win something because you filled out a sweepstakes entry or entered a contest you surely would have remembered entering.
4. One time I won $1,000k in a grocery store contest; and I too received a letter telling me I had won. Trust me, if you win something they have to have proof that they sent it to you for tax purposes. Trust me, you know a real letter when you see it. In this case the letter I rec'd was on stationery (not something mass produced like the publishers clearing house stuff you see in the mail all the time), my letter was hand-signed with pen, and the letter was sent to me by the grocery store via certified mail recipt. And it told me I had won, and all I had to do was be aware that a fed-ex package would be coming in the mail in the next 10 days with the check. When such check came in -- it was quite clear I had rec'd a REAL check; not something mass produced that looked like a real check.
5. READ the smallest print on the back where you endorse the check and most importantly, ask the bank to research it before cashing it....Companies/publishers/and things similar are in the business/marketing to get you to read their stuff - that is why you always get these post cards that say you won a camera/vacation trip, but you just need to send $9.95 to this company etc or you just need to sit through a brief timeshare meeting to get your free prize. Remember, if you actually win something - YOU SHOULD never have to pay to get the prize!!!!!!!!
6. Everything that claims its either free or too good to be true is most often, too good to be true. In my case, I had gone to this local grocery and entered the contest like 50 times, so when I got the letter in the mail, I knew it was legit, because I recall having entered the sweeptakes in the first place.
7. Last recommendation -- go to the many popular website that publish valid sweepstakes (www.sweepstakestoday.com etc) -- it is there that you will see rules how to enter and what to look for as far as scams are concerned and at these websites you can enter legit sweepstakes. Who knows, you might get lucky and win...........and make up for the loss that you have endured. Your bank is not responsible for your own intelligence in the matter.
8. But don't forget, more than anything - READ everything!!!
Good luck, and I am so sorry you have to endure such a horrible loss with this circumstance.
They do have responsibility for that check! Unfortunatly, I can't remember what I did with the article that said what to do about it (I seem to remember in the example given that several bank employees lost their jobs, and the bank's branch that honored the check was closed but the victim never received any money back)! They have a responsibility to recognize and not issue credit for bogus checks! They are a banking instutition and should have safe guards in place. Apparently yours did not and should be prosecuted for it before it happens to someone else.
I would switch banks and contact a lawyer.
RPocai
Going to a TV station is a good idea. So is going to the State Attorney General. It's easy to file a complaint and you can do it on-line. http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/consumer.shtml#file
Also, you might give the same info to the local postmaster at your post office or visit US Post Office website since it would be mail fraud. http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/fraudsch.htm
B.,
This email may sound harsh and after the fact, but I have to say it!
How unfortunate for you, but seriously, did you think someone would send you a check for that amount for nothing? Come on, these scams go on all the time and you should have research it before doing anything, especially depositing in your bank account.
ANYTIME ANYONE OFFERS OR GIVES YOU MONEY from a source you have no idea who it is, DO NOT TAKE IT. Shred the document or repot to the police and the BBB. If it is from a source you know, check it out and research it first before DOING ANYTHING!!
Not only was the check not good, but then they stole your own personal $2900 from you! Why would you send that kind of money to ANYONE??
If you live locally around her Plano/Allen, you could try the ACO in Allen or the Hope's Door in Plano.
Google assistance in Plano or whereever you reside and you should get some help that way.
Good Luck!
Gladys
You might call your local police office to see if you have grounds to press charges. Did you keep copies of documents you signed? I'm sure the bank has a copy of the check??? And you still have the address that you sent your check to?? At least make a police report, and ask them what you can do as your next step.
Perhaps, report this to the Better Business Bureau so they have this case on file. Google "Better Business Bureau" to get their contact info.
Sorry this happened to you. If something is too good to be true, it is! Don't trust anything you receive in the mail or email! They are all scams or hoaxes, and they prey upon single moms, the poor, and the eldery.
You live, you learn, right?
I agree totally with Gladys. I didn't know people who believed in such letters really existed.
I.
