Beware…excerpts from real fake check scams
October 3rd, 2007, 9:34 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Aaron
Over the past few months, readers have sent me copies of scam letters they received. Here are some excerpts from those letters.
Nelson and Susan MacDonald received this letter from Waterhouse Financial Inc. informing them that they had won $250,000 in a Swiss lotto drawing.
“We are pleased to inform you that you are one of the declared winners of the DE-LOTTO SWITZERLAND SWEEPSTAKES…We have made many unsuccessful attempts to contact you regarding this winning. You are therefore entitled to the sum of $250,000 US DOLLARS …To expedite the processing enclosed is the check of $4880 US dollars which has been deducted from your winning. The sole purpose of this check is for the payment of applicable Government Taxes on your big winnings.”
Below is a copy of the check. Susan said it looked real, felt real and came from a real bank in Oregon.
An other Barstow resident received this letter from the Cashnet Sweepstakes, promising $68,000 in winnings.
“Enclosed is a check of USD3,450.00 (THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY U.S. DOLLARS) payable to you in order to pay your accounting, tax processing and clearance fees for your prize…To begin your prize claim kindly deposit your check and allow 24 to 48 hours for the check to clear.”
In both cases, the targeted victims grew suspicious and did not cash the check.
